Atalanta recovered from the 1-0 loss versus Inter Milan in their final game of 2025 with a 1-0 victory against Roma to kick off the new year, and they appeared eager to build on that win here.
Throughout the first half against Bologna, who came into the game winless in five SA encounters, they were more intense and hungry than their opponents. Chances were initially at a premium, with Ederson’s cheeky attempt from close range in the opening five minutes the major real opportunity of the opening half-hour.
La Dea, though, were constantly getting themselves into dangerous positions, lacking only the final ball. It felt like a matter of time before they would begin to create something more tangible, and shortly after Honest Ahanor headed over from Nicolas Zalewski’s corner, they broke the deadlock.
Charles De Ketelaere was heavily involved, directing a perfectly-weighted pass into Nikola Krstovic to allow the Montenegro international to sweep home from eight yards for his first SA strike since September.
Bologna, meanwhile, only had Nicolo Cambiaghi’s wayward strike on the break to show for a first half to forget.
The hosts improved after the restart, with half-time substitute Jonathan Rowe registering their first shot on target of the game in the 47th minute.
Nevertheless, it was their opponents who doubled their advantage around the hour mark as Krstovic got his name on the scoresheet once more. This time, he ran onto a Marten de Roon header before shuffling the ball knot his left foot and burying beyond Federico Ravaglia between the Bologna sticks.
Atalanta were now in complete control, and De Ketelaere’s curling effort was denied by Ravaglia shortly after.
Bologna attempted to flick the switch and exert some sustained pressure, but they were unable to move through the gears despite enjoying plenty more possession.
As such, it was a comfortable victory for Atalanta, who leapfrog Bologna and move into seventh. The Rossoblu, meanwhile, have now lost back-to-back fixtures against the Bergamo-based outfit and remain without a point in 2026 - a far cry from their early-season form that saw them go 12 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nikola Krstovic (Atalanta)
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