Atalanta moved two points clear at the top of Italy’s Serie A after claiming a 2-0 victory at Monza, the last on Monday.
Atalanta were unable to break through the Monza defense in the first half as they faced a promoted side determined to score their first points of the season before the visitor brought out a more aggressive unit in the second period.
Rasmus Hojlund scored the game’s first goal in the 57th minute when Ademola Lookman found the Danish forward in the box where he fired into the bottom left corner with a single touch.
Atalanta doubled the lead eight minutes later with an own goal when Lookman’s back pass was deflected into the Monza net by defender Marlon.
“We took a risk in the first minutes and then we came out on top,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said after the match.
“It’s never happened in the history of Atalanta to be alone at the top of the table, it’s an honor for these guys and it’s a very good thing for the people and for us.”
Atalanta now top the league with 13 points, two ahead of Napoli and champions AC Milan.
Gasperini also praised Hojlund after the 19-year-old scored his first goal for the club after signing from Austrian side Sturm Graz.
“We were convinced from the first practice. He has very good characteristics for a 19-year-old player, we have to work on him but he has a great future,” said Gasperini.
Monza are the third team in Serie A history to lose their first five games of the season after Treviso (2005) and Benevento (2017).
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