Atalanta v Como: the brainteaser

As the epilogue of September's domestic match streak, the Gewiss Stadium will welcome Atalanta once again for the late Serie A MD5 kick-off against newly-promoted side Como. Brace yourselves for the black-and-blue Monnday night with our three trivia about the game.

When did our last Serie A home game against the Larians occurr?

By crossing the Gewiss Stadium's gates on Monday night, not only will Como set foot in a night-and-day stadium compared to their last time but they will also make their return in Bergamo for the first time in over two decades.

Talking about last times, to when does our last clash in the Italian top-flight against Como in Bergamo date back? Although in order of apparition the most recent confrontation between the two sides officially occurred in the 2003/4 Serie B campaign (namely, the 2-1 win on MD14), the question refers to the Serie A. Which makes us turn the hands of time back one more season; more precisely, to the 2002/03 campaign: on MD33, the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia welcomed the Larians, who took the lead on 7 minutes through Caccia's tap-in.

Despite the visiting drag throughout the first half and for most part of the second stint, Como was eventually forced to pull up the white flag courtesy of a relentless Cristian Doni, who turned the game around within a fiery 15-minutes run. After equalising from the spot on 63 minutes, the Italian striker made it two in the 81st through a left-footed uppercut assisted by Rossini.

Did Gasperini ever face Como during his stint at Atalanta?

Monday's game will mark a first also for coach Gian Piero Gasperini himself who, despite the over 20 years spent on the sidelines, never faced the Larians in any official competition.

If we widen the scope past the Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Serie B, the Grugliasco-native caretaker crossed pathes with Como on 3 different occasions during his period at the helm of the black-and-blue Club: namely, in 2016, 2020 and 2022. And what aboute the aggregate? Three wins out of three! Going in order: a 2-1 triumph courtesy of Paloschi and Freuler, a 5-1 walkover thanks to Muriel and Toloi's braces and Malinovskyi's single net in between; and a 4-goal haul sweep (on target Palomino a debuting Éderson, Zortea and Lammers).

What's our domestic scoring tally v Como?

Although broadly speaking both teams are levelled scoring-wise with 51 nets each in the 55 clashes played thus far, the Nerazzurri lead the chart with 28 goals scored in as many matches when it boils down to the two teams' offensive bounties in the Orobic town. And what about our homebody topscorer(s)? Tied with 2 goals each we find: Cristiano Doni (already mentioned in the first question), Maurizio Ganz and Angelo Domenghini.