Charles De Ketelaere was inspirational with two goals after a Mario Pasalic volley, as Atalanta swept Lazio aside 3-1 to secure fourth place.
This was a head-to-head for fourth place, though both teams also have a game in hand. Teun Koopmeiners, Isak Hien and Jose Luis Palomino were injured, with Ademola Lookman at the Africa Cup of Nations. The visitors had Ciro Immobile back from a ban, but missed Mattia Zaccagni, Gil Patric and suspended Danilo Cataldi.
Ivan Provedel used his legs to parry a Sead Kolasinac header at the back post, but Atalanta took the lead moments later.
De Ketelaere’s cross from the left was nodded down by Giorgio Scalvini for the Mario Pasalic chest and right-foot volley on the turn from six yards.
Pressure pays off 😤
Mario Pašalić gives Atalanta a deserved lead against Lazio…
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Luis Alberto curled a free kick just past the far top corner, but Atalanta received a soft penalty when Adam Marusic had his arm raised as the ball was kicked onto it from close range on a corner. De Ketelaere sent Provedel the wrong way to convert.
Charles De Ketelaere beats Ivan Provedel from the spot 💥
Maurizio Sarri's side have it all to do in the second-half…
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It was almost 3-0 before the break, as Emil Holm’s free header from a set play clipped the top of the crossbar.
Nicolò Rovella was booked for a shirt tug and will be suspended when Lazio take on Cagliari next week.
There was a dangerous Lazio counter-attack, but Felipe Anderson’s shot was charged down by Holm and Gustav Isaksen fired the rebound wide.
Luis Alberto was unlucky to see his shot hit teammate Felipe Anderson, while Provedel was alert to the Aleksei Miranchuk finish from close range after another well-worked move.
Just as Ciro Immobile was trying to make an impact at the other end, De Ketelaere completed his brace by cutting inside from the right and drilling the left-foot finish through Luca Pellegrini’s legs into the near bottom corner.
Charles De Ketelaere secures the win for Atalanta with a piece of individual brilliance 🌟
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 4, 2024
Immobile was caught by Berat Djimsiti for a penalty, which the veteran converted himself past Marco Carnesecchi, but it was too little, too late.
There was one more chance for Immobile, who turned a Pedro cross just wide with a fairly free header.
Atalanta 3-1 Lazio
Pasalic 16 (A), De Ketelaere pen 43, 76 (A), Immobile pen 84 (L)
Player statistic
Mario Pasalic | 9' | |||
Mario Pasalic (Assist: Giorgio Scalvini) |
16' | |||
Charles De Ketelaere | 43' | |||
45' | Felipe Anderson | |||
45+1' | Luis Alberto |
47' | Nicolò Rovella | |||
Charles De Ketelaere (Assist: Gianluca Scamacca) |
76' | |||
Éderson | 78' | |||
84' | Ciro Immobile |