Atalanta really rode their luck at the Stadio Arechi, saved by the woodwork and Juan Musso before Duvan Zapata gave them a barely-deserved win over rock bottom Salernitana on Franck Ribery’s first start.
Fabrizio Castori was already dealing with sack rumours after three consecutive defeats, conceding 11 goals, but he launched Ribery in the starting XI for the first time with Lassana and Mamadou Coulibaly – no relation – in midfield, missing Ivan Ruggeri, Leonardo Capezzi and Frederic Veseli. La Dea had stuttered this season, with one point from the last two rounds and a midweek Champions League draw away to Villarreal. Luis Muriel and Hans Hateboer remained long-term absentees with Marten de Roon suspended.
Wajdi Kechrida blasted not far off target, while Robin Gosens saw his attempt deflected wide and Mamadou Coulibaly’s screamer from distance clipped the top of the crossbar.
Merih Demiral was furious on the stroke of half-time when Milan Djuric only received a yellow card for lashing out an elbow that left him bleeding heavily from the eyebrow.
There were numerous changes at half-time and Salernitana came flying out the blocks, within 20 seconds Gondo forcing a great one-handed Juan Musso save at the near top corner.
Djuric really should’ve done better after Kechrida ran from his own half on the counter-attack, but drilled wide.
Joel Obi thought he’d given Salernitana the lead when completing a give-and-go with Federico Bonazzoli to carve the defence apart, but his finish bounced off the base of the near post.
Instead, Atalanta took the lead with one of their very few scoring opportunities at the Stadio Arechi. Duvan Zapata exchanged passes with Josip Ilicic, spun quickly on the spot and fired in from 10 yards.
It really should’ve been 2-0 on 84 minutes, as Vid Belec managed to parry another Duvan Zapata attempt into the path of Davide Zappacosta, who somehow turned the rebound wide.
Joakim Maehle stood up a cross to the back post for the Gosens free header, which Norbert Gyomber cleared off the line, nodding it onto the underside of his own crossbar.
Salernitana 0-1 Atalanta
Duvan Zapata 75 (A)