Alessandro Diamanti was inspirational as Atalanta beat nine-man Bologna for their first win since December 6. The hosts were without a victory since December 6, managing just six draws and eight defeats, prompting reports Coach Edy Reja would be sacked.
Rafael Toloi sat out a ban with Carlos Carmona and Gianpaolo Bellini injured. Bologna had three draws in four rounds, scoring only one goal, and missed Mattia Destro, Luca Rossettini and Kevin Constant.
The Rossoblu haven’t conquered the Stadio Azzurri d’Italia since a 1-0 result in January 2009, followed by two draws and two defeats.
Early diving headers from Alejandro Gomez and Guglielmo Stendardo caused some concern, while Mauricio Pinilla turned another excellent Alessandro Diamanti cross wide.
Diamanti was instrumental again in the goal, as he drew two defenders down the right and rolled across the six-yard box for Papu Gomez to side-foot home.
Bologna thought they had equalised on 33 minutes when a series of shots were charged down and parried by the goalkeeper, until eventually Domenico Maietta prodded over the line from six yards. The flag was up to cut celebrations short, as Maietta had wandered offside during the build-up.
Atalanta doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Pinilla deserved much of the credit for chasing down Maietta and robbing him near the corner flag, then rolling across for Diamanti to fire in from close range. The ex-Bologna man did not celebrate against his former club, but it was his first goal since arriving in Bergamo.
Straight after the restart, Ibrahima Mbaye almost scored a ludicrous own goal, chesting Diamanti’s cross just wide of the post under no pressure.
Atalanta visibly tried to sit on their lead and it was a dangerous approach, as Marco Sportiello was forced into a reaction save when Andrea Masiello accidentally deflected a cross from the left.
On the resulting corner, Anthony Mounier’s effort was charged down and Matteo Brighi blasted the follow-up over.
Sportiello was again called upon to beat away a Sergio Floccari strike and had to deal with a Diawara header at the back post.
Just as Bologna were pouring forward, Gomez went on a mazy run and was brought down for a penalty, though Daniele Gastaldello appeared to get the ball. Pinilla stepped up and saw his spot-kick well saved round the near post by Antonio Mirante.
Moments later, Bologna went down to 10 men, as Ibrahima Mbaye lunged into a tackle studs-up on Gomez. Gastaldello quickly followed into the locker room for his second bookable offence, leaving the Rossoblu with nine players.
In the final minute Gomez almost got a third, but Adam Masina got back to clear his chip away from the waiting Pinilla.
Atalanta: Sportiello; Masiello, Paletta, Stendardo, Drame; Kurtic (Migliaccio 72), De Roon, Cigarini; Diamanti (Raimondi 53); Pinilla, Gomez (D’Alessandro 89)
Bologna: Mirante; Mbaye, Gastaldello, Maietta, Morleo (Masina 71); Brighi, Diawara, Brienza (Mounier 46); Rizzo (Acquafresca 64), Floccari, Giaccherini
Ref: Giacomelli
Saved penalty: Pinilla 78 (A)
Sent off: Mbaye 79 (B), Gastaldello 85 (B)
Sent off: Mbaye 79 (B), Gastaldello 85 (B)
