Atalanta 2-1 Cagliari Player Ratings: Scamacca's Brace Secures a Narrow 2-1 Victory

Atalanta managed to clinch a hard-fought 2-1 victory against a resilient Cagliari side in a Serie A clash that had us on the edge of our seats. Atalanta burst out of the gates. They took an early lead through Gianluca Scamacca, who looked sharp from the first whistle. For a while, it seemed like they might run away with it. But Cagliari, to their credit, weathered the storm and clawed their way back into the contest.

The second half saw a spirited fightback from the visitors, culminating in an equalizer from substitute Gianluca Gaetano. The momentum shifted, and for a moment, an upset looked possible. However, Scamacca stamped his authority on the game once more, netting the winner late on to break Cagliari hearts and secure the three points for his team.

Here are Atalanta Vs Cagliari Player Ratings

Cagliari Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Here are Cagliari Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Goalkeeper

Elia Caprile - 7.0: What stood out to us was his resilience. He was called into action multiple times and made four crucial saves, including a couple of really sharp stops inside the box. He couldn't have done much about Scamacca's clinical finishes. A busy and respectable performance despite conceding two goals.

Defenders

Sebastiano Luperto - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, outing. He was tidy in possession with a 90% pass accuracy and made five important clearances. From our perspective, he did his job reasonably well but was part of a defensive line that ultimately couldn't contain Atalanta's main threat.

Juan Rodríguez - 6.0: He had a real battle out there. He won a decent number of his duels and put in a shift defensively. However, he picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and looked a bit overwhelmed at times before being substituted. A mixed performance overall.

Gabriele Zappa - 5.5: We personally felt he had a tough evening. He struggled to cope with the pressure down his flank and offered very little going forward, losing possession 11 times. It was no surprise to see him substituted before the hour mark.

Midfielders

Marco Palestra - 6.5: An energetic display. He was constantly involved, drawing three fouls and trying to make things happen. His passing was neat, but we noticed he snatched at a couple of decent chances he should have tested the keeper with. Showed good promise though.

Michel Adopo - 5.5: A very quiet game from him. He struggled to impose himself on the midfield and was a bit of a passenger for large spells. With only 43 touches, he just wasn't involved enough to make a real impact on the proceedings.

Alessandro Deiola - 6.0: The captain fought hard, as you'd expect. He threw himself into tackles, winning two of five attempted. However, his decision-making was questionable, getting caught offside twice and committing a couple of needless fouls. A true mixed bag of a performance.

Adam Obert - 6.5: He put in a solid defensive shift, contributing with tackles and clearances. What we liked was his willingness to get on the ball, even if it meant losing it nine times. He was composed for the most part, but the defense as a whole was stretched.

Michael Folorunsho - 6.5: A frustrating player to watch today. He showed flashes of brilliance, creating three chances which was impressive. But losing possession a staggering 17 times is simply not good enough at this level. You could see the talent, but the execution was lacking.

Forwards

Gennaro Borrelli - 5.5: He was a physical nuisance, winning a lot of aerial battles, but that's about it. He gave away five fouls and offered very little goal threat before being hooked. We felt his indiscipline disrupted his team's rhythm.

Sebastiano Esposito - 7.5: Cagliari's best player on the day, without a doubt. He was a constant livewire, linking play intelligently and always looking to create. His assist for the equalizer was a moment of pure quality. A fantastic performance full of creativity and purpose.

Substitutes

Gianluca Gaetano - 7.0: What an impact. He came off the bench and scored the equalizer with a great finish, completely changing the dynamic of the game. The yellow card for his celebration was a bit silly, but his contribution was immense.

Matteo Prati - 6.0: Came on and provided more stability in the midfield after Zappa's difficult spell.

Manager

F. Pisacane - 6.5: His game plan almost worked. His side showed great character to equalize, and his substitution of Gaetano was a masterstroke. Ultimately, his defense just couldn't handle Scamacca, but he can be proud of the fight his team showed.

Atalanta Player Ratings vs Cagliari

Here are Atalanta Player Ratings vs Cagliari

Goalkeeper

Marco Carnesecchi - 6.0: One of the quietest games he'll ever have. He didn't have a single save to make. There was absolutely nothing he could do about Gaetano's well-placed shot. His distribution was decent, but he was largely a spectator.

Defenders

Odilon Kossounou - 6.0: He looked a little shaky, to be honest. He lost five of his six duels and made a clumsy foul. While he made some important clearances, he didn't inspire confidence before being substituted.

Berat Djimsiti - 7.0: He was a rock at the back before his unfortunate injury. Dominant in the air and strong in the tackle, winning seven duels. His early departure was a noticeable loss for the backline.

Sead Kolasinac - 6.5: A typically no-nonsense performance. He kept his passing simple and effective with 89% accuracy. He wasn't spectacular, but he didn't put a foot wrong either. A solid, dependable outing.

Midfielders

Éderson - 7.5: A beast in the midfield for the 66 minutes he was on. He won six of his nine duels and recovered the ball eight times, completely dominating his area of the pitch. His substitution was a bit surprising as he was controlling the game.

Marten de Roon - 7.0: The captain led by example, as always. He had a massive 86 touches, orchestrating play from deep and breaking up Cagliari attacks with four tackles. It was a classic, all-action performance from him.

Lorenzo Bernasconi - 6.0: A bit of a mixed bag. He got booked for a rash challenge and seemed a little off the pace at times. He tried to get involved but was substituted after struggling to make a decisive impact.

Davide Zappacosta - 7.5: Excellent contribution from the wing-back. He delivered a great assist for the opening goal and created another two big chances. He was a constant threat down the right flank before being taken off for a rest.

Forwards

Gianluca Scamacca - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match and our highest-rated player. Two goals from three shots on target tells its own story. His finishing was lethal, and he was the difference-maker. A world-class striker's performance that single-handedly won the game for his team.

Ademola Lookman - 6.0: A really frustrating afternoon for him, and for us watching. He got into great positions but his finishing was off, missing two big chances. He had four shots but couldn't find the net. You expect more from a player of his quality.

Charles De Ketelaere - 7.0: He was a creative force, providing three key passes and looking dangerous whenever he had the ball. Yes, he lost possession a lot, but his intent was always positive. He was a key part of Atalanta's attacking threat.

Substitutes

Honest Ahanor - 6.0: Came on for the injured Djimsiti and filled in adequately without any fuss.

Nicola Zalewski - 6.5: Looked bright and energetic after coming on, even forcing a late save from the keeper.

Yunus Musah - 6.0: Replaced the excellent Éderson and helped see out the game with a tidy display.

Manager

R. Palladino - 7.0: His team secured the win, which is all that matters. They looked dominant early but allowed Cagliari back into the game, which would be a concern. He was fortunate to have a striker like Scamacca to deliver the decisive blow when the team was under pressure.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Scamacca