Oranje is the new GOTM: de Roon wins in december!
Chosen by Nerazzurri fans through our social media
In the same vein as the latest monthly MVP pageant, the battle for the Goal of the Month set the Nerazzurri social scene alight. Split between #teamCDK and #teamdeRoon, the two camps went head-to-head for 24 hours of fiery, nail-biting votes. Every single fan played a part in tipping the scales, first one way, then the other…
In the end, it was the “big captain” Marten de Roon who came out on top, landing the match-winning strike at the death and claiming the gold in the contest thanks to his thunderbolt in the Coppa Italia clash against Genoa. For Charles De Ketelaere, it was once again a case of “close but no cigar”: the Belgian had to settle for silver, courtesy of the crowning jewel of his monster performance against Chelsea.
The contest wrapped up shining a spotlight on the enfant terribles of the youth ranks and Atalanta U23, with Primavera star Nicolò Artesani and coach Bocchetti’s lieutenant Pietro Comi finishing third and fourth, respectively.
Before we dive into the highlights, here’s a look at how the votes shaped up in the ballots (exit polls are available below)
Winner: Marten de Roon, Atalanta 4-0 Genoa, Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Round of 16 (48%)
Runner-up: Charles De Ketelaere, Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea, UEFA Champions League League Phase MD6 (47%)
3rd place: Nicolò Artesani, Atalanta 1-1 Cremonese, 2025/26 Primavera 1 Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti MD15 (3%)
4th place: Pietro Comi, Monopoli 1-1 Atalanta U23s, 2025/26 Serie C Sky Wifi MD17 (2%)
Up next: head over to our Instagram Reels and YouTube highlights to relive the top four goals from November.
4th place: Pietro Comi, Monopoli 1-1 Atalanta U23s, 2025/26 Serie C Sky Wifi MD17 (2%)
The opening salvo of this month’s pageant comes courtesy of Pietro Comi: the 2004-born Treviglio native climbs onto the podium thanks to his first professional goal.
At the Veneziani, Atalanta keeps the pressure on after the home side’s penalty puts them ahead. Panada swings a free-kick from the halfway line, opening up the angle and curling a perfect ball to the far post. Berto rises and flicks it on with a header, the ball ricocheting in the box before landing at the feet of Atalanta’s other “tower”. Atalanta’s number 6 does not think twice, lashing a first-time poke under the crossbar with the instep, sealing the equalizer.
3rd place: Nicolò Artesani, Atalanta 1-1 Cremonese, 2025/26 Primavera 1 Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti MD15 (3%)
From one comeback draw to another, December’s third spot goes to Nicolò Artesani, who netted the equalizer in stoppage time for Mister Bosi’s U19s in their final match before the winter break: a 1-1 draw against Cremonese.
In the dying moments, Mungari spots the weak side and whips a sharp cross into the six-yard box. Percassi attacks the near post, but his flick is cut out by the Cremonese defense. A goalmouth frenzy ensues, and the bouncing ball finds the onrushing Artesani. Atalanta Primavera's number 10 doesn’t flinch, unleashing a thunderous left-footed volley that flies past Cassin and into the net.
At the Centro Bortolotti, on Matchday 15 of the Primavera 1 Championship – Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti – coach Bosi’s Nerazzurri were held to a 1–1 draw by Cremonese after a fiercely contested encounter decided in the closing stages.
Runner-up: Charles De Ketelaere, Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea, UEFA Champions League League Phase MD6 (47%)
A narrow second place, the latest this month including the POTM outcome, for Charles De Ketelaere. Still in the game deep into stoppage time, the Belgian had to wave the white flag only to the clock.
After leveling the score with a visionary assist for Scamacca’s decisive header, De Ketelaere isn’t done yet. Taking the spotlight once again as big nights demand, Charles decides to add the missing piece to his personal European recital against Chelsea. A free-kick is played quickly back by Krstóvic to de Roon, who sets up CDK: with wings on his feet, the Belgian races toward goal in an almost carbon-copy run of the one that led to the equalizer.
This time, however, he decides to “go solo,” and instead of picking out one of three unmarked teammates – Krstóvic, Ahanor on the makeshift wing, or, slightly deeper, Lookman – he opts for tertium (or quartium) est datur: spotting a gap on the right side of the box, he charges forward with his right foot. The ball, deflected off Cucurella – further proof that fortune often favors the bold – flies past Sánchez and nestles in the net.
The rest is history: it’s the knockout blow for the reigning world champions, and Atalanta writes a new chapter in its European saga, with CDK, Man of the Match, leading the team through an unforgettable evening.
Winner: Marten de Roon, Atalanta 4-0 Genoa, Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Round of 16 (48%)
We wrap up the climb with Marten de Roon, whose match-winning strike, at least stylistically, "needs no introduction": the most “classic” of goals made by Marten handed the December contest gold to the Bergamasque Oranje…
The game ticks on in Bergamo, and Atalanta, already a goal and a man up thanks to Djimsiti’s first-half strike, comes out for the second half “pedal to the metal”, poised to put the game to bed,
The second goal strikes in the 54th minute: de Roon threads it out to Bellanova on the right, whose shot is blocked by Siegrist, forcing a desperate clearance from Vasquez. De Ketelaere reacts fastest and tries to lift it into the box, but Otoa heads it away. The ball falls to Maldini, who, after a quick first touch, tees it back perfectly for Marten.
The Atalanta captain then comes full circle in style and with a curling half-volley, he unleashes his signature dish. The crowd erupts, the Genoa defense is frozen, and even Zalewski, standing just a few yards away, throws his hands to his head in disbelief.