Packed stands in Clusone for Sarri's Atalanta
Around 3,000 fans attended the Nerazzurri's first preseason outing
Clusone once again turned out in force, showing its affection and support for Maurizio Sarri's Atalanta in their first preseason outing, with the stands at the Città di Clusone Sports Centre packed to capacity. The in-house training game against Nicola Beati's Under-23 side finished 2-1, with Levak's brace cancelling out Zanaboni's first-half opener.
The first effort on target came less than two minutes in, as Vavassori let fly with his left foot after a slick, quick-fire move in a crowded area. The first team then had a few more attempts kept out by the Under-23 defence, before the youngsters threatened just after the quarter-hour mark, with Mendicino’s right-footed effort drifting narrowly wide. Raspadori then scuffed his finish late in the first half, allowing Anelli to make a comfortable save, before the Under-23 side took the lead in the 44th minute through Zanaboni, whose precise header from Ghislandi's cross from the left found the net.
The second half saw both sides make a number of changes. Bellanova was the first to threaten, forcing Bugli into action with a curling left-footed effort from the edge of the box. After several more attempts, the equaliser arrived in the 74th minute: Bellanova picked out the run of Levak, who coolly slotted home with a precise right-footed finish to make it 1-1. In the 85th minute, Vismara produced a fine save to deny Zuccon from close range. Then, deep into stoppage time, Levak converted at the second attempt after his first effort struck the crossbar, finishing off Puljić's assist to seal a 2-1 win in Maurizio Sarri's Atalanta's first preseason outing.
ATALANTA 2-1 ATALANTA U23s
Scorers: Zanaboni 44 (U23s), Levak 74, 90 (A)
Atalanta: Carnesecchi (Sportiello 46, Vismara 75); Zappacosta (Bellanova 46), Scalvini (Plaia 57), Djimsiti (Obrić 46, Puljić 78), Bernasconi (Ahanor 46, Bakker 84); Samardžić (Steffanoni 57), Gaetano (Levak 46), Zalewski (I. Sulemana 46, 78 Manzoni); Vavassori (El Bilal 46, Cassa 78), Scamacca (Krstović 46), Raspadori (Maldini 46). Unused Bench: Sonzogni. Coach: Maurizio Sarri.
Atalanta U23s: Anelli (Bugli 46), Idele (Bergonzi 46), Mirra (Isoa 46), Guerini (Del Lungo 46), Navarro (Simonetto 46), Mendicino (Pounga 46), Ruiz de Valdivia (Pedretti 46), Ghislandi (Leandri 46), Bonanomi (Artesani 46), Zanaboni (Cakolli 46, Zuccon 75), Baldo (Camara 46). Unused Bench: Zanchi, Comi, Rinaldi, Lonardo. Coach: Nicola Beati.
Referee: Mauro Zoppi from Bergamo (Assistant referees: Andrea Sigismondi from Bergamo and Raoul Paganessi from Bergamo).