Lecce caused another huge upset with a 2-1 victory in Bergamo, badly damaging Atalanta’s hopes of Champions League qualification, with Assan Ceesay’s early strike and an Alexis Blin free header.
The Salentini had already beaten La Dea 2-1 at the Stadio Via del Mare back in November, so evidently Marco Barone has Gian Piero Gasperini’s number with his high press.
Both sides were decimated going into the game, as Marten de Roon and Giorgio Scalvini were suspended, with Duvan Zapata, Mario Pasalic and Hans Hateboer injured. The visitors had Joan Gonzalez banned, plus Samuel Umtiti, Kastriot Dermaku and Marin Pongracic on the treatment table. Gabriel Strefezza was struggling with flu symptoms and only fit for the bench.
It was the ideal start for Lecce, as Assan Ceesay held off Merih Demiral with his back to goal, turned and immediately thumped a daisy-cutter from 25 metres out into the bottom corner.
Rasmus Hojlund attempted a brave diving header, while Wladimiro Falcone beat away the Ademola Lookman angled drive and a Joakim Maehle strike from 12 yards.
Lookman did have the ball in the net straight after the restart, but was caught offside on the Hojlund through ball, and Ederson blasted over as the hosts came out fighting for the second half.
Falcone used his legs to parry a Brandon Soppy angled drive at the near post, but Juan Musso almost got into a terrible mess when hesitating on Lorenzo Colombo’s high press.
Lecce instead doubled their lead, as a corner was taken short, the cross put in by Gabriel Strefezza and Alexis Blin was allowed a totally free header.
Rafael Toloi blasted inches wide from a frankly improbable angle, especially for a centre-back.
It seemed so comfortable for Lecce, but Falcone gifted Atalanta a lifeline with a late howler, as he hesitated before clearing and by the time he got the kick away, Hojlund was bearing down to deflect into the net.
Falcone made up for it with a desperate one-handed save to push Luis Muriel’s scorcher out from under the bar in stoppages.
Atalanta 1-2 Lecce
Ceesay 4 (L), Blin 74 (L), Hojlund 87 (A)
Player statistic
| Merih Demiral |  |
4' | ||
| 4' |  |
Assan Ceesay (Assist: Valentin Gendrey) | ||
| Davide Zappacosta | |
12' |
| 55' | |
Federico Di Francesco | ||
| 64' | |
Antonino Gallo | ||
| 74' | |
Alexis Blin (Assist: Gabriel Strefezza) | ||
| 76' | |
Alexis Blin | ||
| Joakim Maehle | |
82' | ||
| Rasmus Höjlund | |
87' |
Match statistic
