Closing 2023 with a 1-0 victory over Lecce
Lookman with the winner
2023 ends with victory over Lecce. Matchday 18 of 2023-2024 Serie A TIM saw Atalanta edge 1-0 past Lecce at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, courtesy of a second-half goal from Lookman.
The Nerazzurri threatened early on, with Scamacca's 10th-minute header going just wide, and in particular in the 14th minute, when Scamacca hit the post from close range set up by Pašalić. Carnesecchi was also tested in the 21st minute by Koba's shot from the edge of the area. After Lookman's effort could not be redirected on target and Ruggeri made a desperate clearance, the Nerazzurri came close to opening the scoring in the 32nd minute when Koopmeiner's fierce shot was cleared off the line by Baschirotto.
In the second half, Lecce threatened the opener on 54 minutes with a Krstovic header off target, while Pašalić ran to the by-line and hit a strike that clipped the underside of the crossbar four minutes later. The Nerazzurri piled on the pressure, which paid off in the 59th minute when Lookman gathered from Scamacca and beat Falcone with a daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner. Gasperini's men created two more scoring threats in the following minutes as Zappacosta's right-foot shot was wide, while Scamacca was denied by on-rushing Falcone. Lookman threatened to double Atalanta's lead in the 65th minute, but Falcone managed to parry with difficulty. Four minutes later, Krstovic made his way through the defence but fired wide. On 78 minutes Zortea rolled it across for Muriel, who shot wide. The visitors threatened through Piccoli, whose angled drive was just wide and Carnesecchi pulled off a huge save to deny Oudin on 89 minutes.
The Nerazzurri will get back to work tomorrow, Sunday 31 December, with a behind-closed-doors morning training session taking place at the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia to start preparations for the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa tie against Sassuolo scheduled for Wednesday, 3 January at the Gewiss Stadium.
ATALANTA 1-0 LECCE
Scorers: Lookman 59 (A).
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, de Roon, Djimsiti, Kolašinac, Zappacosta (Zortea 64), Pašalić, Éderson, Ruggeri (Holm 92), Koopmeiners (Adopo 82), Scamacca (Muriel 64), Lookman (Miranchuk 92). Subs: Musso, Rossi, De Ketelaere, Bakker, Comi. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Lecce: Falcone, Gendrey (Listkowski 83), Baschirotto, Touba, Gallo, Kaba, Ramadani, Rafia (Gonzalez 72), Oudin, Krstovic (Piccoli 77), Strefezza (Venuti 83). Subs: Brancolini, Borbei, Venuti, Dorgu, Berisha, Listkovski, Faticanti, Smajlovic, Blin. Coach: Roberto D'Aversa.
Referee: Gianluca Manganiello from Pinerolo (assistant referees Dario Cecconi from Empoli and Filippo Valeriani from Ravenna; fourth official: Daniele Perenzoni from Rovereto; V.A.R. Eugenio Abbattista from Molfetta; A.V.A.R. Daniele Chiffi from Padua).
Notes: Zappacosta (A), Ramadani (L), Holm (A) and Oudin (L) booked.