Atalanta was held to a 1-1 draw, largely due to a commendable performance by Como. Como, led by Cesc Fabregas`s assistant Guindos for this challenging Lombardy derby at the New Balance Arena, faced an early setback. Samardzic opened the scoring for Atalanta just five minutes into the match. Despite the initial disadvantage, Como displayed remarkable determination, courage, and defensive solidity, keeping the game tightly contested. With a touch of luck on Perrone`s equalizing goal, Como managed to withstand Atalanta`s second-half pressure and secure a valuable point.
This result sees Como climb to 7th place in the Serie A standings with 9 points, placing them just one point behind Atalanta. Meanwhile, La Dea (Atalanta) struggled with finishing and precision in front of goal, remaining in 6th position, trailing Juventus.
Atalanta`s last league victory dates back to September 21st, a 3-0 triumph over Torino. This draw means they missed a significant opportunity to keep pace with Inter in the Champions League qualification race, while the destinies of Napoli, Roma, Juventus, and Milan in their respective fixtures are yet to be determined.
Despite the setback, Atalanta`s coach, Ivan Juric, expressed a nuanced perspective: “The lads are giving me satisfaction; we have strong foundations, and we`re adding new elements like playing from the back. However, we`re lacking points to be higher up in the standings, considering this match and the one against Pisa.”
In stark contrast, Como`s sporting director, Carlalberto Ludi, conveyed complete satisfaction with his team`s performance and the crucial point earned. This outcome places Como just one point away from the European qualification zone. Ludi stated, “We are very proud of this performance. The team played well for long stretches; coming to Bergamo and trying to play our own game was quite symbolic. We faced a strong team that plays in the Champions League. They had absences, as did we, but they are built to perform well. We knew the team had to prepare for a specific type of match; we are proud of what we achieved.”
