Atalanta got back to winning ways against bottom of the table Cremonese, surviving a penalty scare with Marten de Roon, Jeremie Boga and Ademola Lookman on target.
It ended 1-1 when these sides met back in September and the hosts were still rock bottom of the table, despite also preparing for the Coppa Italia semi-final with Fiorentina. David Okereke and Vlad Chiriches were out of action, while La Dea missed Teun Koopmeiners, Berat Djimsiti and Hans Hateboer.
Soualiho Meite tested Juan Musso in the opening minutes, while Rafael Toloi’s volley on a corner at the near post was deflected just wide.
On the stroke of half-time, Duvan Zapata burst down the right and his roll across was cut out by Aiwu, but only knocked back as far as Marten de Roon to sweep home undisturbed from 12 yards.
Atalanta made changes at the break and immediately seemed smoother, Marco Carnesecchi denying his parent club by rushing off his line to parry from Ederson after a well-worked passing move.
However, Rafael Toloi had his arm raised when charging down a Daniel Ciofani strike in the box, giving Cremonese a penalty that Ciofani also converted past Juan Musso.
Rasmus Hojlund was initially rested after five goals in two games for Denmark, but he made an immediate impact as a substitute, getting away from Matteo Bianchetti down the right and rolling across for Jeremie Boga to tap in from six yards.
Tsadjout slipped at the crucial moment on a Cyriel Dessers assist, then Joakim Maehle’s angled drive thumped the inside of the far post, but only after the offside flag went up.
Hojlund really should’ve scored on 89 minutes, but only scuffed the ball wide when De Roon rolled across from the left, unmarked from 10 yards and perhaps already planning his goal celebration.
It was almost costly, as Emanuele Valeri fired a volley wide with his weaker foot, then Cristian Buonaiuto dribbled away from both Ademola Lookman and Giorgio Scalvini before testing Musso at the near post.
Atalanta did get their third when Boga harassed Aiwu into giving up possession and Ederson set up Lookman for the precise angled drive.
Cremonese 1-3 Atalanta
De Roon 44 (A), Ciofani pen 56 (C), Boga 73 (A), Lookman 93 (A)
Player statistic
| Luka Lochoshvili |  |
21' | ||
| 37' | |
Mario Pasalic | ||
| 44' |  |
Marten de Roon |
| 54' | |
Rafael Tolói | ||
| Daniel Ciofani |  |
56' | ||
| Daniel Ciofani | |
60' | ||
| 72' | |
Jeremie Boga (Assist: Rasmus Höjlund) | ||
| Matteo Bianchetti | |
82' | ||
| 90+3' | |
Ademola Lookman (Assist: Éderson) |
Match statistic
