Atalanta 2-1 Cremonese Player Ratings: First-Half Dominance Seal Three Points for Hosts | Serie A

Atalanta grabbed a 2-1 win over Cremonese in a Serie A match at the Gewiss Stadium. The game showed two very different halves. The home team, Atalanta BC, showed their dominance in the first 45 minutes, while the rest of the game was quite neutral. Cremonese pulled one back late in the second half, but the equaliser never came. Below, let's talk about Atalanta vs Cremonese player ratings from the Serie A clash.

Atalanta, now seventh in the Serie A standings, played with high intensity and constant pressure. Cremonese struggled to cope. Nikola Krstović opened the scoring, and Davide Zappacosta soon added a fine second goal. Atalanta created many chances and could have scored more before halftime.

After the break, Cremonese improved. They defended better and attacked with more confidence. The match became tense late on when Morten Thorsby scored for the visitors. Atalanta also saw a third goal by Berat Djimsiti ruled out after a VAR check.

Despite the pressure at the end, Atalanta held on. Their strong first-half performance proved enough to claim all three points.

Key Takeaways

1. Nikola Krstović scored the opening goal to give Atalanta an early lead.
2. Davide Zappacosta doubled the advantage with a spectacular strike in the first half.
3. Atalanta held on to win after Morten Thorsby scored late for Cremonese.

Atalanta Player Ratings vs Cremonese

Here are Atalanta player ratings from the game against Cremonese:

Goalkeeper

Marco Carnesecchi - 7.0: He was a spectator for large parts of the game but came up big when needed. Made a vital save late on to prevent an equalizer. His distribution was a bit hit-or-miss, with only 59% pass accuracy. But that late save was crucial for securing the win.

Defenders

Berat Djimsiti - 7.0: A really solid performance from the defender. He was robbed of a goal by a VAR decision, which was a real shame. Defensively he was sound, making 7 clearances. He was a constant threat from set-pieces, and unlucky not to be on the scoresheet.

Sead Kolasinac - 6.5: A bit of a mixed performance from him before being subbed. He was strong in the challenge and made five clearances which was impressive. However, he picked up a silly yellow card for a needless foul. We noticed he was a bit too aggressive at times.

Giorgio Scalvini - 8.0: What a player. From our perspective, he was a rock at the back for Atalanta. He won a staggering 11 duels and made 5 tackles. His ability to bring the ball out from the back and start attacks was a joy to watch. A truly commanding display.

Midfielders

Mario Pašalić - 7.5: The captain was at the heart of everything good for his team. He provided a lovely assist for the second goal and created an incredible 6 chances. He did lose possession a few too many times for our liking, but his creative output was immense.

Éderson - 7.0: The engine room of the midfield. He was tireless, covering every blade of grass. Won 7 duels and made 3 tackles, constantly breaking up Cremonese's play. An unsung hero in this victory, for sure.

Nicola Zalewski - 7.5: A whirlwind of energy down the flank. He created 4 chances and was always looking to get forward and attack his man. His final product was sometimes lacking, but his directness caused all sorts of problems for the opposition.

Davide Zappacosta - 8.5: Our man of the match. He scored a brilliant goal from a tough angle that showcased his quality. He was a constant threat down the right side during his time on the pitch. His goal was the decisive moment in this game. A fantastic performance.

Forwards

Lazar Samardžić - 7.0: So unlucky not to score, after his shot cannoned back off the woodwork. He was a creative spark, making 3 key passes, but he also missed a big chance he should have buried. A frustratingly talented player who could have had a bigger impact.

Giacomo Raspadori - 7.5: Excellent performance. He set up the opening goal with a great cross and was a constant thorn in the side of the defense with his movement. Created 4 chances and linked the midfield and attack beautifully. A really clever player.

Nikola Krstović - 7.5: He got the ball rolling with a well-taken opening goal. The striker was a real handful throughout, taking 7 shots in total. His movement in the box was top-notch, and he deserved his goal for his efforts.

Substitutes

Raoul Bellanova - 6.5: Came on and provided fresh legs down the right, but didn't have the same impact as Zappacosta.

Odilon Kossounou - 6.0: Replaced Kolasinac and looked a bit shaky, picking up a yellow card.

Lorenzo Bernasconi - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to make a real judgment.

Kamaldeen Sulemana - 6.5: Looked lively and missed a decent chance, but brought some pace to the attack.

Yunus Musah - N/A: A late cameo to see out the game.

Manager

R. Palladino - 8.0: His game plan for the first half was perfect, and his team executed it flawlessly. They blew Cremonese away. The substitutions were logical to manage the game. A well-deserved win for him and his team.

Cremonese Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Check out Cremonese player ratings from the match against Atalanta:

Goalkeeper

Emil Audero - 7.0: He made 7 saves, and without him, this could have been a real hammering. He was let down by his defense for the goals but did make an error that led to a goal. Despite that, he kept his team in the game for long periods.

Defenders

Sebastiano Luperto - 7.0: A solid display from the defender. He got the assist for their late goal which showed his desire to get forward. Defensively, he won his duels and passed the ball well. One of the better performers for the losing side.

Federico Baschirotto - 7.0: The captain put his body on the line for his team. Made an incredible 9 clearances and 4 blocked shots. He was a true warrior at the back, but it wasn't enough to stop Atalanta's fluid attack.

Federico Ceccherini - 5.0: A day to forget for him. He really struggled to cope with the pace and movement of the Atalanta forwards. His game was cut short by an injury, which was probably a mercy. A poor performance.

Midfielders

Giuseppe Pezzella - 6.0: He did create a couple of chances going forward, but defensively he was suspect. He was dribbled past 3 times and found it difficult to contain Atalanta's wingers. An okay performance but needed to offer more defensively.

Tommaso Barbieri - 6.5: Showed some flashes of quality going forward with a couple of nice dribbles. However, his defensive work was not up to scratch, and his passing was erratic. A very mixed bag from the midfielder.

Youssef Maleh - 6.0: A busy but ineffective performance. He ran a lot but was second best in the midfield battle. His shooting was wayward and he offered little creative spark. He worked hard but lacked quality.

Morten Thorsby - 7.5: Cremonese's best player on the day. He was a monster in the air, winning 9 aerial duels. He battled for everything and got his reward with a well-taken late goal. A fantastic, all-action display.

Alberto Grassi - 6.0: A very quiet game from him before he was subbed. He kept possession well enough but failed to make any real impact on the game. The match just passed him by.

Forwards

Jamie Vardy - 5.5: We barely noticed he was playing. He had only 17 touches in over an hour of football. He was completely starved of service and looked isolated upfront. A very disappointing showing from the experienced striker.

Federico Bonazzoli - 5.5: Another forward who offered very little. He was subbed at halftime after a completely anonymous first 45 minutes. He struggled to hold up the ball or link play. A performance to forget.

Substitutes

Filippo Terracciano - 6.0: Came on for the injured Ceccherini and did a steady job.

Milan Djuric - 6.5: Provided more of a physical presence upfront and had a late chance saved.

Antonio Sanabria - 6.0: Worked hard but couldn't get into the game.

Martín Payero - 6.5: Looked tidy in midfield and added some composure.

Alessio Zerbin - 6.5: His cross led to a big chance late on, adding some spark.

Manager

D. Nicola - 6.0: His initial setup was all wrong, as his team was completely overrun in the first half. The changes he made in the second half did make them more competitive. But it was too little, too late to salvage anything.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Davide Zappacosta, who scored the winner for Atalanta.

Worst Performer

Cremonese's Federico Ceccherini failed to influence the game for the visitors.