Spezia 2-2 Atalanta

On matchday 16 of the 2022-2023 Serie A TIM, the fixture against Spezia at the Stadio Picco ended in a 2-2 draw. Down by two goals at the resumption of the league after the long winter break, Atalanta showed character and guts to come back with goals from Højlund and Pašalić in the second half, kicking off the new year with a draw at a difficult ground in a very complicated match.

A DIFFICULT START FOR ATALANTA The hosts got off to a strong start and, after Bastoni's attempt was smothered by Sportiello, they broke the deadlock 8 minutes into the game when Gyasi cut into the box and beat Sportiello assisted by Nzola. Atalanta's reaction was immediate, first (10′) with Koopmeiners, who could not make the most of Zapata's cross, and then (13′) with the Colombian, who was denied by on-rushing Zoet. The two collided heavily at that juncture and the clash forced both of them to be subbed off in the following minutes, albeit at two different moments. Before leaving the pitch, however, the Colombian striker found time to trouble substitute Zovko with a header in the 23rd minute. Replacing Zapata was Højlund, who had an attempt at goal as soon as he got off the bench, at the half-hour mark. But Spezia struck again in the 31st minute, with Nzola making the most of his speed to double their lead. Before half-time, there were saves on each side: Zovko's save on Højlund's headed effort on 41 minutes and Palomino's tackle on Nzola in the first minute of injury time.

THE COMEBACK Atalanta piled on the pressure in the second half, pouring everything forward. Coach Gasperini gave new energy to the team with the changes. After the close call in the 60th minute (Ampadu's 3-0 goal was ruled out by the V.A.R. for offside in the build-up), Højlund reopened the game in the 77th minute with a great play, as he gathered the ball with his back to goal, controlled it, held off a defender and then fired past the goalkeeper. The young Dane had another attempt at goal, as his angled drive skimmed far post in the 85th minute. However, the equalizer was not late in coming as Pašalić tapped in from Koopmeiners' pass in the 93rd minute to make it 2-2.

A TEST AT ZINGONIA ON THURSDAY Meanwhile, tomorrow, Thursday 5 January, preparation will resume with a friendly at the Centro Bortolotti against Folgore Caratese, a team competing in the Serie D championship. The match will kick off at 14:30 CET on pitch 2 (the one used for the Primavera matches) and will be open to the public, with a limited capacity subject to the depletion of available places.

SPEZIA 2-2 ATALANTA

Scorers: Gyasi 8 (S), N'Zola 32 (S), Højlund 77 (A), Pašalić 93 (A)

Spezia: Zoet (Zovko 18), Amian, Kiwior, Nikolaou, Holm, Bourabia, Ampadu (Ekdal 78), Bastoni (Kovalenko 78), Reca (Moutinho 68), Gyasi, Nzola (Maldini 68). Unused bench: Sala, Hristov, Beck, Ferrer, Ellertsson, Caldara, Agudelo, Strelec, Sanca. Coach: Luca Gotti.

Atalanta: Sportiello, Toloi, Palomino, Scalvini (Malinovskyi 82), Mæhle (Zappacosta 57), de Roon, Éderson (Pašalić 57), Ruggeri, Koopmeiners, Lookman (Muriel 57), Zapata (Højlund 29). Unused bench: Rossi, Bertini, Okoli, Boga, Djimsiti, Zortea, Vorlický, Hateboer, Soppy. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Antonio Giua from Olbia. Refereeing assistants: Stefano Alassio from Imperia and Mattia Scarpa from Reggio Emilia. Fourth official: Andrea Colombo from Como. V.A.R.: Valerio Marini from Roma 1. A.V.A.R.: Marco Di Bello from Brindisi.

Notes: Lookman (A), Kiwior (S), Ampadu (S), Zappacosta (A), Nikolau (S), and Koopmeiners (A) booked.