Novara 0-3 Atalanta U23s
Vavassori and a double Vlahović to give Atalanta their first seasonal win
MD2 of the 2024/25 Serie C NOW saw Atalanta clinch their first seasonal win at the Silvio Piola stadium in Novara through a fledgling team display. After Vavassori extended his scoring spree to break the deadlock, the Vlahović storm raged on, with the Serbian striker topping the game off with a brace.
Starting off with a "pedal to the metal" stance and an all-out pressing ever since the first minutes, Atalanta created the first chance in the 8th: sprinting away on the counter, Vavassori then fed Tornaghi, with the black-and-blue defender eventually having his finish deflected out for the corner at the end of his offensive sortie. 14 minutes in and another shot on target for Atalanta, this time with Manzoni, who had his drive beaten away for a corner. On 29 minutes Di Munno finished high over the bar after going toe-to-toe against Dajcar. In the 33rd the visitors broke the deadlock courtesy of Vavassori: after dribbling his way past his marker he vanquished Minelli with a ferocious finish to score his second back-to-back goal. On 46 minutes Novara missed their chance to level following a defensive slip-up. Atalanta had the last word before halftime through Vlahović, who almost scored an undisputed stunner from the halfway line.
The second half opened up with Ungaro nearing the equaliser with a point-blank paw in the box, with the ball ultimately ending out to the side. The Nerazzurri doubled their lead thanks to a 59-minute counter: Cassa widened the scope and dished out a daisy-cutter through pass to serve Vlahović, who didn't miss his date with the goal in the mano-a-mano against Minelli. Opening up all floodgates, Atalanta U23s' third of the night was short in coming: on 75 minutes Vlahović burst into the box from the right flank and finessed his way to the goal to net his second of the game. Despite their timid attempts, Novara failed to plug the gap. Ultimately, the game wound down in a 0-3 win for the visitors.
NOVARA 0-3 ATALANTA UNDER-23s
Scorers: Vavassori 33 (A), Vlahović 59, 75 (A).
Novara: Minelli, Bertoncini, Di Munno (Basso 76), Ongaro (Ganz 61), Calcagni, Ranieri (C) (Donadio 46), Morosini, Ghiringelli, Manseri (Gerardini 76), Agyemang (Migliardi 26), Lancini. Unused subs: Negri, Desjarden, Cancola, Riccardi, Brkic, Khailoti, Cannavaro, Koblar, Camolese. Coach: Giacomo Gattuso
Atalanta U23: Dajcar, Tornaghi, Gyabuaa (C) (Muhameti 55), Panada, Vavassori (Cassa 55), Ghislandi (Del Lungo 55), Manzoni (De Nipoti 80), Bernasconi, Navarro, Bergonzi, Vlahović (Alessio 87). Unused subs: Zanchi, Bertini, Kraja, Comi, Obric, Fiogbe, Sodero, Idele. Coach: Francesco Modesto.
Referee: Mr. Edoardo Manedo Mazzoni from Prato.
Assistant referee: Nicola Moreo from Molfetta and Davide Riganese from Rimini.
Fourth Official: Federico Tassano from Chiavari.
Notes: Gyabuaa (A) and Bertoncini (N) booked.