Atalanta ambush Lazio in the capital to jump into Champions League spots

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Atalanta ambush Lazio in the capital to jump into Champions League spots
Zappacosta opened the scoring for Atalanta
Zappacosta opened the scoring for Atalanta
AFP
Rasmus Hojlund shone for Atalanta as the top-four hopefuls moved back into the UEFA Champions League qualification places with a gutsy 2-0 victory away to Lazio - a sixth consecutive away head-to-head without defeat for La Dea.

As is often the case when Atalanta take to the field, a first half predictably filled with energy and intensity finished with the side from Bergamo in the lead.

Having peppered the Lazio goal from the off, the visitors’ opener eventually came via a Davide Zappacosta wonder-strike, with the ex-Chelsea full back curling a right-footed strike into the top corner.

It came after chances for Teun Koopmeiners, Ademola Lookman and Hans Hateboer all threatened the Lazio goal, with Atalanta heading into the break boasting an xG that was over double of their lacklustre hosts.

Perhaps unlucky to have only netted once throughout a dominant first half, Atalanta’s siege continued in the second period, with Højlund netting a deserved second for the Bergamo-based outfit.

Ghosting in at the back post, the Danish international was on hand to tap home Ademola Lookman’s cross-shot.

Hojlund had earned comparisons to fellow Nordic goal-machine Erling Haaland, with the 20-year-old striker living up to the lofty reputation with his masterful showing against Lazio.

While Atalanta had unquestionably been the better of the two sides, it wasn’t for the lack of effort from Maurizio Sarri’s side, who on another day might have racked up plenty of goals themselves.

Prior to both Atalanta goals, the out-of-form Ciro Immobile spurned two gilt-edged chances for the home side, illustrating just how frustrating an evening it was for Lazio.

The result blows Serie A’s top-four race wide open, with Atalanta leapfrogging the capital club to jump up to third in the table. For Lazio, it’s the same old story, as inconsistent results continue to stunt any kind of momentum they’d begun to grow.

Champions League football remains a possibility,  but just like Rome, their rebuild isn’t going to happen in a single day.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta)

Check out the stats from the clash with Flashscore.

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