Udinese completed an extraordinary comeback from 2-0 down to hold leaders Atalanta 2-2 and had the chances to win it in stoppages.

This was an unexpected head-to-head at the top of the table with one point separating third-place Udinese and joint leaders – with Napoli – Atalanta. It was also Gian Piero Gasperini’s 300th game in charge of the Bergamo boys.

The hosts had won six on the trot and their only absentee was Adam Masina, with Rodrigo Becao fit for the bench, whereas La Dea missed Rafael Toloi, Berat Djimsiti, Davide Zappacosta, Juan Musso, Duvan Zapata and doping ban defender Jose Luis Palomino.

Watch the highlights here.

There was a minute’s silence before kick-off for Udinese director Lorenzo Toffolini, who died this week.

Luis Muriel should’ve done better with a weak finish at the back post on a smart Ademola Lookman cross from the right.

Atalanta took the lead when Teun Koopmeiners floated a very long ball over the top from practically his own penalty area, Muriel controlled and cut inside from the left, rolling his pass across Mario Pasalic and ready for Lookman to tap in at the back post.

There was controversy too, as Lookman was booked for an ‘insulting’ celebration towards the Udinese fans, but it was his usual binoculars gesture and the player seemed bemused by the card.

Beto’s diving header was a bit too low on the Sandi Lovric cross from the right, but Marco Silvestri fumbled a ferocious Koopmeiners free kick and thanked Walace for hoofing it away before Muriel could get the rebound from five yards.

Destiny Udogie completely mistimed his tackle on Muriel for a clear penalty, which the Colombian also converted low into the near bottom corner, despite Marco Silvestri guessing the right side.

Udinese refused to give in, Tolgay Arslan firing wide, then Gerard Deulofeu curling a splendid free kick over the wall and in at the near post for his first Serie A goal of the season.

That woke the Friulani up and moments later Hans Hateboer flung himself in the way of an Udogie finish from close range to prevent the equaliser.

Isaac Success was inches away from getting the tap-in on the Lazar Samardzic ball flashed across the face of goal, but Udinese got their equaliser on a short corner routine.

Deulofeu’s no-look pass found Roberto Pereyra at the by-line, pulling it back for the Nehuen Perez header from close range.

It still wasn’t over, as Perez got back for a decisive defensive header to prevent Ederson nodding in the Hateboer cross from six yards.

Deulofeu’s free kick skimmed the crossbar and Tolgay Arslan’s angled drive flashed just wide after a Samardzic back-heel flick.

Udinese 2-2 Atalanta

Lookman 36 (A), Muriel pen 56 (A), Deulofeu 67 (U), Perez 78 (U)

One thought on “Serie A | Udinese 2-2 Atalanta: Classic Friuli comeback”
  1. One of the best match this season. I need to rest for work tomorrow, but have to watch this one as a redemption after torturing myself with another allegri’s masterpiece of ugly, handicapped, uninspiring, ancient, archaic football last night.

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