Atalanta win the 27th Trofeo Achille e Cesare Bortolotti

Atalanta lifted the 27th Achille and Cesare Bortolotti Trophy in their first outing of the season at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, defeating Athletic Club 1-0 thanks to Zalewski’s goal early in the second half. It was a special evening shared with our fans as we remembered two unforgettable presidents, Achille and Cesare Bortolotti.

Atalanta made a bright start, immediately threatening as Bellanova burst forward and picked out Scamacca, whose first-time effort missed the target. Athletic responded in the 20th minute, with Maroan firing over from a good position. In the 39th minute, Sarri’s side put together a fine, sustained team move, which Zalewski finished with an acrobatic volley that went narrowly wide. Atalanta threatened again in the 41st minute, this time through Gaetano from long range: his powerful right-footed strike across goal flew just wide of Unai Simón’s post.

The Nerazzurri came out strongly after the break and quickly found the breakthrough through a brilliant piece of play from Zalewski, who beat his man with a sharp dribble before firing a left-footed strike into the bottom corner past Unai Simón to put Atalanta 1-0 up. In the 52nd minute, the Nerazzurri went close to doubling their lead: Raspadori played Bernasconi in behind, and his cross found Zalewski, who was denied by a defender just as he was about to turn the ball home. Krstović tried his luck in the 77th minute with a lob from a tight angle, but his effort went wide.

The Nerazzurri will now have a day off before returning to training at the Centro Bortolotti on Sunday afternoon for a behind-closed-doors session, as preparations begin for the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-offs. Athletic threatened in the 70th minute, with Maroan just unable to get a touch at the far post. Krstović tried his luck in the 77th minute with a lob from a tight angle, but his effort went wide. Athletic threatened again in the 86th minute through Canales, whose right-footed effort flew over the crossbar. The visitors had the final chance of the game, but Carnesecchi gathered safely. Atalanta thus lifted the 27th Achille and Cesare Bortolotti Trophy.

At the end of the match, as is tradition, the "Mario Bresciani" Award for the best player of the match was presented to Giorgio Scalvini, while Unai Simón received the "Valter Polini" Award for the fairest player.

ATALANTA 1-0 ATHLETIC CLUB

Scorers: Zalewski 46 (A)

Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Bellanova (Zappacosta 60), Kossounou, Scalvini, Bernasconi (Kolašinac 71), Samardžić (Pašalić 60), Gaetano (de Roon 71), Éderson (I. Sulemana 71), Zalewski, Scamacca (Krstović 60), Raspadori (Cassa 82). Unused bench: Sonzogni, Sportiello, Vismara, Kristensen, Obrić, Manzoni, Plaia. Coach: Maurizio Sarri.

Athletic Club: Unai Simón, Yeray, Paredes, Yuri (Adama 61), Areso (Johaneko 85), Ruiz de Galarreta (Jauregizar 61), Gere (Prados 70), Sancet (Canales 61), Berenguer (Navarro 61), I. Williams (Djalò 61), Maroan. Unused Bench: Padilla, Serrano, Prados, Rego, Rincon, Monreal. Coach: Edin Terzić.

Referee: Abdoulaye Diop from Treviglio;
Assistant referees: Gennantonio Martone from Monza and Andrea Vanzini from Voghera;
Fourth official: Francesco Aloise from Voghera.