Atalanta recovered from a goal down against Bologna, securing a 2-1 win at the Stadio Dall’Ara thanks to goals from Teun Koopmeiners and Rasmus Højlund.

Thiago Motta’s side hosted La Dea without the injured Kevin BonifaziLorenzo De SilvestriMusa Barrow and Joshua Zirkzee, so Nicola Sansone started as a false 9.

Gian Piero Gasperini left Ademola Lookman on the bench, picking Duvan Zapata and Rasmus Højlund up front.

Bologna took an early lead through Riccardo Orsolini. The Italian striker pounced on the ball at the edge of the box and found the back of the net at the far post with a surgical left-foot finish. The 25-year-old celebrated by raising his hands to the sky, dedicating his goal to former Bologna boss Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The Italian striker had a chance to double the lead at minute 10 but sent his header over the bar.

Bologna pressed high, closing all passing lines to La Dea who had their first chance at minute 33 when Højlund sent a shot wide of the near post.

Gasperini’s men appealed for a penalty kick minutes before the break for a tackle of Roberto Soriano on Marten de Roon, but the referee waved to play on.

Gasp introduced Jeremie Boga and Davide Zappacosta at the beginning of the second half and his substitutions had an immediate impact. The Sassuolo winger assisted Koopmeiners who scored a long-range scorcher, levelling the score.

Boga looked unstoppable and delivered a second assist for Højlund, who moved well between the lines and made the most of a through ball, beating Lukasz Skorupski with a chip finish.

Nicolas Dominguez had a decent chance from the edge of the box but sent his shot wide of the near post.

Zappacosta could finalise a lovely counter-attack, but Skorupski stuck out a trailing leg to deny the Italy international.

Atalanta secured their first win in five games after three defeats and one draw and are now -3 from a Champions League spot, level on points with Roma and Lazio.

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