Atalanta did the bare minimum and were under the cosh for long periods, but poor Torino defending allowed Luis Muriel and Roberto Piccoli to snatch a stoppage-time winner.
The Granata under new coach Ivan Juric had disappointed in pre-season friendlies and the Coppa Italia, needing penalties to beat 10-man Cremonese, with Andrea Belotti spraining his ankle in that match too. Simone Zaza, Cristian Ansaldi, Simone Edera and Vincenzo Millico were also sidelined. Duvan Zapata and Hans Hateboer were injured, with Rafael Toloi, Marten de Roon and Remo Freuler suspended.
La Dea took the lead with their first real attempt, as Luis Muriel gathered down the right, cut inside past Ricardo Rodriguez and hit a rocket into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Wilfried Singo needed a double block on both the Robin Gosens header and Muriel follow-up, but Toro threatened towards the break, Mattia Pessina clearing Bremer’s header practically off the line and Ola Aina stinging Juan Musso’s gloves too.
Jose Luis Palomino needed a desperate late tackle on the Singo counter-attack and the pressure finally paid off against a complacent Atalanta.
Belotti came off the bench and made the difference, his strike from the edge of the box deflected off Joakim Maehle to loop over a helpless Musso into the far top corner.
It was almost a disaster for Atalanta moments later, as Belotti ran onto a long ball and Musso came flying outside his penalty area, crashing into the striker. Toro wanted a red card, the referee opted for a yellow.
With coach Ivan Juric suspended in the stands, the Granata poured forward and Simone Verdi flashed a shot just wide from the D.
Just as Torino looked as if they were going to snatch a win, they lost it in stoppages. A poor Rodriguez clearance fell to Mario Pasalic, who drew three defenders towards him as he set up Roberto Piccoli to tap in from five yards.
Torino 1-2 Atalanta
Muriel 6 (A), Belotti 79 (T), Piccoli 93 (A)