Goals galore at the Gewiss Stadium: 5-1 win over Genoa
Retegui hat-trick and goals from Éderson and De Roon
At the end of an outstanding display, both in terms of quality and quantity, the Nerazzurri claim a roaring success over Genoa as the 2024-2025 Serie A Enilive MD7 saw Atalanta impose themselves 5-1 over the visitors thanks to Retegui's hat-trick and single goals by black-and-blue "centenarian" Éderson and captain Marten de Roon.
The Nerazzurri started brightly and threatened early on through Lookman, whose 6th-minute volley flew inches over the bar, and Hien, who headed wide in the 13th minute. Gasperini's men took the lead in the 24th minute after a lovely and quick give-and-go between Éderson, Lookman and Retegui, with the Nigerian striker setting up our no. 32 to score at full stretch. The Nerazzurri almost added another goal on 31 minutes through Lookman, who broke free from his markers but was denied by Gollini. Another link-up sent Kolašinac through on 41 minutes, but his left-footed shot went wide. Pašalić had the last chance before half-time when de Roon found him with a free-kick, but his effort was off target.
The second half started with the Nerazzurri doubling their lead in the 50th minute when Éderson fired from the edge of the box, Gollini smothered the Carioca midfielder's daisy-cutter, but then came Retegui, who plunged on the rebound to score his second of the night. Atalanta made it three right on the hour with Éderson, who finalized a flawless choral display by slamming Retegui's finesse play into the roof of the net after skimming the inner crossbar. The Brazilian celebrated his 100th appearance for Atalanta in style.
The Nerazzurri continued to press and almost added a fourth on 61 minutes when Kolašinac found Pašalić in the box, but the Croatian midfielder volleyed over the bar before Éderson forced Gollini into a save from the edge of the area on 63 minutes. The 4-0 came in the 74th minute after the referee awarded Atalanta a penalty via VAR for a Vogliacco handball following Samardžić's effort: from the spot, Retegui sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for his hat-trick. On 77 minutes Zaniolo also had a go but his left-footer was inches wide. De Roon made it 5-0 in the 80th minute with a spectacular volley into the near bottom corner after picking up a loose ball following a corner. Genoa pulled one back in the 83rd minute through a long-range Ekhator effort. The match ended 5-1 at the Gewiss Stadium.
ATALANTA 5-1 GENOA
Scorer: Retegui 24, 50, 74 pen (A), Éderson 60 (A), de Roon 80 (A), Ekhator 83 (G).
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, de Roon, Hien, Kolašinac, Bellanova (Palestra 78), Pašalić, Éderson (Sulemana 78), Zappacosta, De Ketelaere (Samardžić 68), Retegui (Vlahović 82), Lookman (Zaniolo 68). Unused subs: Rui Patrício, Rossi, Godfrey, Cuadrado, Comi. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Genoa: Gollini, De Winter, Bani (Vogliacco 46), Vasquez, Zanoli, Thorsby, Bohinen, Miretti (Melegoni 68), Martin (Norton-Cuffy 81), Pinamonti (Ekhator 68), Vitinha (Ankeye 86). Unused subs: Leali, Sommariva, Sabelli, Marcandalli, Maturro, Kassa, Accornero, Ahanor, Masini. Coach: Alberto Gilardino.
Referee: Mr. Daniele Chiffi from Padova;
Assistant referees: Fabiano Preti from Mantova and Marcello Rossi from Biella;
Fourth official: Francesco Cosso from Reggio Calabria;
V.A.R.: Valerio Marini from Roma 1;
A.V.A.R.: Ivano Pezzuto from Lecce.