Atalanta BC’s unbeaten start to the Serie A season remains intact following a 1-1 draw against Como at the New Balance Arena.
Como’s defence struggled to deal with the hosts’ high pressing in the opening stages of the game, and Atalanta were rewarded with the dream start.
After only six minutes played, Lazar Samardzic slotted the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out to secure his first Serie A goal of the season and give La Dea an early lead.
Ivan Juric’s side came desperately close to doubling their advantage on the quarter-hour mark, when Kamaldeen Sulemana’s close-range effort was superbly cleared away from danger just in front of the goal line.
The first half continued to flow at a rapid pace, and Sulemana’s golden opportunity spurred the visitors into action.
Within 60 seconds, a quick-fire Como counter-attack saw Lucas Da Cunha fire a shot on target, which produced an excellent save from Marco Carnesecchi, but Cesc Fabregas’ side would soon find their equaliser in unorthodox fashion.
Just three minutes later, what was surely an attempted cross from Maximo Perrone on the left flank hit the far post and the ball narrowly crossed the line before Carnesecchi could grasp the ball to level the game at 1-1.
Momentum between the sides swung like a pendulum, as Ademola Lookman steered his shot from 12 yards out inches wide of the target to almost edge Atalanta back in front just before the half-hour mark.
The opening stages of the second half were a much quieter and cagier affair, with an overall xG of only 0.11 across both sides in the first 15 minutes after the interval.
The first notable chance of the second half arrived in the 66th minute when Lookman’s poked effort from inside the penalty area was well held by Lariani goalkeeper Jean Butez.
The Frenchman was called into urgent action again after 78 minutes when he denied substitute Daniel Maldini with an excellent full-stretch save to parry the ball away.
While the visitors posed little attacking threat after the interval, Como supporters should be satisfied with their team doing enough to hold a very strong Atalanta side on their own turf.
The 1-1 draw means that La Dea remain sixth in the Serie A table and two points behind leaders AC Milan at this early stage of the campaign. Meanwhile, a good point on the road for Como sees Fabregas’ side leapfrog Sassuolo and Cremonese into seventh position.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Maximo Perrone (Como)