Como come through at the Gewiss Stadium
Zappacosta and Lookman on target for the Nerazzurri
The match was played 24 hours later after being postponed yesterday due to bad weather that left the pitch at the Gewiss Stadium waterlogged.
The Nerazzurri had the first chance of the game 8 minutes in with Retegui, who turned De Ketelaere's pass goalward without hesitation but saw his effort deflected by a well-alert Audero. Atalanta broke the deadlock on 18 minutes with an undisputed Zappacosta banger: the black-and-blue wingback picked up a deflection from the opposing defence before cleaving a ranged right-footed volley into the bottom corner to open the batting. Como retaliated in the 20th minute and forced Carnesecchi to tip Cutrone's attempt over the bar with a stunning goalkeeping display. Called into action once again on 29 minutes, Carnesecchi deflected Sergi Roberto's angled drive out for a corner. 34 minutes in and the black-and-blue keeper sealed all floodgates to defuse Cutrone's point-blank attempt.
The second half opened up with Strefezza levelling for Como with an angled drive. The visitors took the lead on 54 minutes after Paz's shot suffered a key deflection off Kolašinac. Como then made it 1-3 on 58 minutes through Fadera's angled shot. The Nerazzurri retaliated and neared the goal on 63 minutes when Kossonou's knockout got smothered by Audero on the second attempt. As the black-and-blue forcing raged on, Cuadrado's 73-minute attempt got parried by Audero. The last quarter of the game saw Under-23s player Vlahović make his First Team debut. On 87 minutes Carnesecchi flew to deny first Paz and then Strefezza. Atalanta had the last chance of the game on 92 minutes with Djimsiti, who couldn't find the winning deflection off Bellanova's cross. On 99 minutes Lookman converted the spot-kick previously earned by Vlahović to pull one back for the home side.
ATALANTA 2-3 COMO
Scorers: Zappacosta 18 (A), Strefezza 46 (C), Kolašinac (Own Goal) 54 (A), Fadera 58 (C), Lookman (pen) 99 (A)
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Koussounou, Kolašinac, Bellanova, de Roon, Éderson (Vlahović 75), Zappacosta (Cuadrado 55), Pašalić (Brescianini 46), Retegui (Lookman 55), De Ketelaere (Samardžić 59). Unused bench: Rui Patrício, Rossi, Hien, Sulemana, Zaniolo, Ruggeri, Palestra, Del Lungo. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Como: Audero, Van der Brempt, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno, Perrone (Goldaniga 77), Sergi Roberto, Strefezza (Engelhardt 90), Paz (Sala 90), Fadera (Mazzitelli 62), Cutrone (Gabrielloni 77). Unused bench: Reina, Iovine, Baselli, Belotti, Jasim, Fellipe Jack, Braunoder, Da Cunha, Verdi. Coach: Cesc Fabregas.
Referee: Mr Paride Tremolada from Monza;
Assistant referees: Fabiano Preti from Mantova and Marcello Rossi from Biella;
Fourth official: Giuseppe Collu from Cagliari;
V.A.R.: Danile Paterna from Teramo;
A.V.A.R.: Gianluca Aureliano from Bologna.
Notes: Sergi Roberto (C), Moreno (C), Fadera (C), de Roon (A) and Van der Brempt (C) booked.