Serie A | Atalanta 1-2 Fiorentina: Vlahovic and VAR decisive
Dusan Vlahovic converted two penalties to give Fiorentina a surprise victory away to Atalanta, in a game dominated by VAR, as the hosts also had a goal disallowed.
La Dea had a stuttering start to the season, scraping a last-gasp win at Torino and held by Bologna. Luis Muriel has been ruled out for over a month, but Duvan Zapata returned to the starting XI, Marten de Roon still suspended and Hans Hateboer injured. Nicolas Gonzalez, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Erick Pulgar and Bartlomiej Dragowski were rested after international duty.
Atalanta put the ball in the net after 10 minutes with Berat Djimsiti, but after a very long pause and the referee checking the pitch-side monitor, Duvan Zapata was considered to be interfering with play. He had tried to get his head to the cross, perhaps not making contact, then later got the touch for Djimsiti to score.
Lorenzo Venuti fell heavily onto his shoulder and appeared to dislocate it, giving Alvaro Odriozola his debut after the loan from Real Madrid.
VAR was called into action again at the other end, when Marco Sportiello got his fingertips to a Dusan Vlahovic cross-shot, it struck Joakim Maehle on the arm and that took it away from Jose Callejon. The referee viewed it and considered Maehle’s movement to be towards the ball, even though there was precious little chance to get out of the way. Vlahovic sent Sportiello the wrong way to convert the penalty.
Atalanta put together a series of corners, Jose Luis Palomino nodding wide, while Riccardo Sottil hesitated when clear on goal and was blocked off by Remo Freuler.
The second half started in similar fashion, though, as Djimsiti completely mistimed his tackle on Giacomo Bonaventura. Vlahovic converted another penalty, this time with power more than just precision.
Pietro Terracciano made a crucial save on Duvan Zapata, one-on-one, but VAR was involved again when Callejon clattered into the back of Robin Gosens. The German got there first, so it was a penalty that Duvan Zapata converted.
Atalanta began to pin Fiorentina back, yet were almost caught on the counter when Vlahovic came sliding in too late to meet the Cristiano Biraghi cross.
Duvan Zapata nutmegged Odriozola with his shot, which Terracciano saved with one hand at the base of the near post. The goalkeeper also parried a Palomino diving header at the back post, and Davide Zappacosta didn’t make the most of a Josip Ilicic back-heel assist.
Atalanta 1-2 Fiorentina
Vlahovic pens 33, 49 (F), Duvan Zapata pen 65 (A)