Samardžić's stunner seals our 1-1 draw in Bologna

With the 2024-2025 Serie A Enilive MD6 culminating in a 1-1 draw courtesy of Samardžić's Zona Cesarini goal, Atalanta walked off the Dall'Ara pitch with 1 crucial point after a levelled and hotly-contested scramble on a tough scenery.

Off to a lively start, the game opened up with early goal chances by both sides in the opening minutes: namely, Castro's headed attempt was returned in kind by Kossonou threatening from the distance, with both players finishing too wide off target. On 18 minutes the Nerazzurri neared the tie-breaker as De Ketelaere's through pass ignited Lookman who, despite finding the right angle, eventually saw his shot parried by Skorupski through a hockey save. On 38 minutes the give-and-go between Kolašinac and Brescianini led to the black-and-blue midfielder's "tiptoe" finish, eventually blocked by Skorupski. The first half closed with Samardžić, who came from the bench to replace Brescianini due to injury, having his go with the goal through a right-footed shot, which eventually hissed wide to the side, mere seconds after hitting the pitch.

Bologna broke the lead right after the second-half whistle through Castro, who broke the deadlock with an angled right-footed finish. On 51 minutes Atalanta were initially awarded a penalty following Lucumì's foul on De Ketelaere in the box but it was then called off following a VAR review as the tackle was allegedly deemed outside of the box: with Lucumì's intervention being a last-man-foul, the Bologna player was still sent off. In the unravelling of the resulting free-kick, Bellanova finalized with a first-touch paw but smashed the crossbar in the process. Despite Atalanta going all out for the equaliser, the black-and-blue siege was thwarted by the hosts. On 86 minutes Lookman opened up for Pašalić after his give-and-go in close quarters with Zaniolo but the Croatian midfielder couldn't find the finishing blow on the far-away corner. In the 89th the Nerazzurri hit the woodwork once again through Samardžić, who smashed the inner side of his post with his left-footed banger! Not even a twist of the dial and the Serbian mid saw his effort finally rewarded: after shrugging off his marker on the edge of the box Samardžić got a clear shot and sniped the ball into the far corner with a ranged barrage to level the game. Although Atalanta spared nothing to sew up the comeback throughout the extra time with Pašalić, Lookman, Samardžić once again and then Cuadrado, the 1-1 stalemate reigned supreme.

BOLOGNA 1-1 ATALANTA

Scorers: Castro 46 (B), Samardžić 90 (A).

Bologna: Skorupski, Posch, Beukema, Lucumì, Lykogiannis, Aebischer (Erlic 68), Freuler, Fabbian (Urbanski 46), Orsolini (Casale 55), Castro (Dallinga 68), Ndoye (Holm 84). Unused subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Moro, Karlsson, Iling Junior, Corazza, Odgaard, De Silvestri, Dominguez, Miranda. Coach: Vincenzo Italiano.

Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Kossounou (Retegui 63), Kolašinac (Zaniolo 79), Bellanova (Cuadrado 63), de Roon, Éderson, Ruggeri (Pašalić 79), Brescianini (Samardžić 45), De Ketelaere, Lookman. Unused subs: Rui Patrício, Rossi, Godfrey, Sulemana, Palestra, Del Lungo, Zappacosta Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Mr Antonio Rapuano from Rimini;
Assistant referees: Andrea Zingarelli from Siena and Mattia Politi from Lecce;
Fourth official: Daniele Parenzoni from Rovereto;
V.A.R.: Davide Massa from Imperia;
A.V.A.R.: Aleandro Di Paolo from Avezzano.

Notes: Lucumì sent off on 51 minutes; Freuler (B), Bellanova (A), Kossounou (A), Fabbian (B), Éderson (A) and Skorupski (A) booked.