A’Atalanta overflowing annihilates the Genoaat the end of a match never in question: 5-1, with a super performance from Mateo Retegui, author of 3 goals and an assist against his former team. For the Grifone it is an endless crisis: victory has been missing since last August 24th, 5 defeats in the last 6 matches for Gilardino’s team (one of which was on penalties in the Italian Cup derby).
First half Gasp changes, Retegui pays off
Gasperini changes something: given Kossounou’s withdrawal, De Roon is deployed behind, then room for Bellanova and Zappacosta on the outside, while Retegui’s turn up front supported by De Ketelaere and Lookman. The first opportunity came in the 5th minute with Lookman finishing just over De Roon’s cross. In the quarter of an hour it was Hien’s turn to scare his opponent with a header from a corner kicked by Lookman who however missed the target. Atalanta increases the engine speed and scores the goal. In the 25th minute Ederson finds a perfect through ball for Lookman’s cut, able to put it in the center for Retegui, who pounces on the ball like a hawk and gives his team the lead in splits. Fifth goal in the championship for the Italian-Argentine who is currently first in the scoring charts.
Lookman and Pasalic try
At the half hour mark, Lookman scores again: De Ketelaere’s ball for the Nigerian who controls and shoots, but Gollini is attentive and clears well after going a few steps away from the goal line. Atalanta now dominates, but makes a lot of mistakes in the last pass. In the 41st minute it’s Kolasinac’s turn: Lookman looks for Retegui, who plays for the defender, who goes near the post with his left foot. In full injury time Pasalic also came close to doubling the score: De Roon found a ball in the center from a free kick which the Croatian pounced on, the ball centimeters wide of the post. Atalanta deservedly took the lead in the 45th minute, with a goal from their star centre-forward.
Second half: the ex strikes again. Then Ederson’s missile
The second half resumes along the lines of the first. Atalanta maneuvering, in no hurry to sink. In the 51st minute the immediate second goal: Ederson shoots from the edge, Retegui is a hawk to pounce on the rebound and beat Gollini. Atalanta now rules far and wide against a Genoa who really don’t know how to react. At 60′ here was the hat trick, which was in the air. Lookman serves Retegui, the ball passes to the Brazilian who controls and shoots a handkerchief, smashing the door with a missile that goes under the crossbar. Ederson himself came close to scoring a brace two minutes later with another shot that Gollini struggled to control. Retegui again close to scoring in the 66th minute: high header.
Retegui plays poker, De Roon is very poker
Genoa struggled to react and thought more than anything else and not take more, especially due to the difficulty in crossing the halfway line. Meanwhile Gasperini brings in Zaniolo and Samardzic. The Serbian was immediately able to knock on Gollini’s door, kicking with his left foot in the 70th minute. On his shot the VAR then detects a touch from Vogliacco’s hand: penalty kick which Retegui again kicks and scores. De Roon joins the party: following a corner kick, Genoa defender Vogliacco clears the ball with his head, but the Dutchman pounces on the ball and finds the right-footed corner on the fly. Jeff Ekhator appears in the Nerazzurri party, collecting Melegoni’s through ball and scoring the 1-5 by pasting Carnesecchi with a diagonal right-footed shot. Nothing else happens: Atalanta annihilates the Grifone with an amazing Retegui.