4-goal haul in Lecce thanks to debut braces by Brescianini and Retegui

With a brace each, Atalanta's latest signings Brescianini and Retegui sealed Atalanta's blazing flag-off in the league as the 2024/25 Serie A Enilive MD1 saw the Nerazzurri seize the "Ettore Giardiniero–Via del Mare" stadium in Lecce with a 4-0 win.

After softening the hosts' boisterous start, the Nerazzurri picked up the pace as time went by, racking up two chances past the 20-minute mark. First came Zappacosta in the 23rd, hitting the side-netting with his volley finish from outside the box, followed by a double De Ketelaere: after Falcone denied the Belgian's headed finish on Éderson's cross, CDK rounded off slightly wide on the rebound. Atalanta struck one again on 26 minutes, once again with Zappacosta: from one wingback to the other, Atalanta's 77 finalized with a first-touch blow Ruggeri's cross, with the ball hissing wide off the far post. Lecce retaliated in the 34th when Dorgu couldn't finalise the counter with the right angle also due to de Roon's recovery. The deadlock broke in the 35th: Zappacosta rolled the ball across for Retegui, whose header forced Falcone to flap the ball away with a last-ditch save, it then fell to Brescianini to capitalize on the rebound with a winning tap-in to give us the lead thanks to his debut goal as a Nerazzurro. Atalanta made it two on 45 minutes: right at the threshold of halftime, Ruggeri whipped a cross for Retegui, who left his first mark as a Nerazzurro to vanquish Falcone with a great header.

Dittoing their approach to the game's opening, Lecce had the first chance of the game on 51 minutes, when Gendrey's diving header flew high over the bar. The Nerazzurri had a go in the 56th with Éderson, who had his shot fingertipped over the bar by Falcone. Following an on-field review due to Coulibaly's alleged step-on-foot foul on Retegui, the referee awarded Atalanta a penalty. The Italo-Argentinian striker then wrongfooted Falcone from the spot making it 3-0 with an ice-cold spot-kick. Minute 66 and in came the fourth: Pašalić fed Brescianini with a great through ball, with his fellow midfielder bagging his second of the night through a right-footed finish. In the 72nd minute, Pašalić neared the fifth after a give-and-go with Brescianini with the ball flying inches wide to the side following a last-ditch deflection from the home defence. It was then Musso who proved himself well alert within minutes: first in the 75th when he negated Pierotti and then in the 78th when he defused Banda's point-blank finish. The closing minutes saw coach Gasperini reward two Academy players with their first-ever Serie A cap: namely, 2006s-born Cassa, who also accrued his maiden minutes with the first team, and 2005s wingback Palestra, at his third Senior call-up overall, his first in the Italian top-flight.

LECCE 0-4 ATALANTA

Scorers: Brescianini 35, 66 (A), Retegui 45, pen 57 (A)

Lecce: Falcone, Gendrey, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo, Ramadani (Marchwinski 76), Pierret (Coulibaly 46), Morente (Banda 46), Rafia (Berisha 84), Dorgu, Krstovic (Pierotti 69). Unused subs: Fruchtl, Samooja, Borbei, Pelmard, Oudin, Helgason, Burnete, McJannet, Esposito, Addo. Coach: Luca Gotti.

Atalanta: Musso, de Roon, Hien, Djimsiti, Zappacosta (Godfrey 69), Pašalić (Sulemana 90), Éderson, Ruggeri, Brescianini (Palestra 90), De Ketelaere (Bakker 69), Retegui (Cassa 84). Unused subs: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Comi, Tornaghi, Vavassori, Manzoni, Bernasconi. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Mr Davide Massa from Imperia;
Assistant referees: Alessio Berti from Prato and Marco Ricci from Florence;
Fourth official: Luca Massimi from Termoli;
V.A.R.: Daniele Paterna from Teramo;
A.V.A.R.: Simone Sozza from Seregno.

Notes: de Roon (A) and Éderson (A) booked.