It was the first game responsible for Crotone’s new coach Cosmi, brought in after the dismissal of Giovanni Stroppa from the bottom of the rock team and retiring with six consecutive defeats.
Injuries – nightmare for Atalanta’s coach
Meanwhile, La Dea had Martin de Rune suspended, Hans Hateboer, Sam Lammers and Bosco Sutalo injured, and Duvan Zapata did not quite fit after a muscular release. It took just over 10 minutes to break the defense of Crotone. Josip Ilicic swam away with a cross to the right and Robin Gosens turned with his head looking back from six yards.
Atalanta dominated
Christian Romero and Remo Freiler had a misunderstanding that allowed Nwankwo Simi to step out and beat Marco Sportiello with a delicate brow for the sudden equalizer Crotone. Ruslan Malinovsky wasted a big chance on the rack terribly as he seemingly did the hard work on the run, only to get fired widely. Golemic then had to make a decisive block on Matteo Pessina, while Muriel again tested Cordaz and Malinovsky with his head turned away another good chance from the goal. Jose Luis Palomino regained Atalanta’s lead immediately after the restart, as Muriel’s corner was cut for a defender to force a home on the back post. Moments later, Golemic was very unlucky enough to get into the right position to cut Muriel on Ilicic through the ball, then he slipped, accidentally creating an assist for the Colombian.
Crotone crumbled and Ilicic added a fourth goal with his trademark left leg curler to the top corner of the edge of the area. Miranchuk came out and within a few seconds fired a wide shot at Pessina’s goal post. Ilicic almost gifted Crotone with another late goal. Duvan Zapata also marked his return from injury by rattling the crossbar late. Miranchuk still got his goal in the end, the curler of his left foot to the side of the inside of the rack, not giving Kordaz a chance.