Atalanta Bergamo ended their long drought after five winless Serie A games in a row by beating Sampdoria Genoa convincingly 4-0. Koopmeiners’ double stood out in particular.
The Bergamo players took control of the game from the first minute, started high and hardly let the visitors from Genoa out of their own half. Atalanta were especially dangerous on the right side.
Shortly after the first rather harmless shot by de Roon (5th), the bell rang early: After a cross by Freuler, Pasalic, who had replaced Malinovskyi, who had been injured during the warm-up, buried a flying header into the goal for 1:0 (6th). After that, Sampdoria looked even more insecure, the guests did not succeed in any move, Atalanta completely controlled the game.
Accordingly, the 2:0 in the 29th minute was deserved: After an inaccurate clearance by Genoa’s keeper Falcone, Pessina was quickest and forwarded the second ball directly into the run of Koopmeiners. The 24-year-old Dutchman, who joined from Alkmaar in the summer of 2021, kept his cool in the one-on-one and tucked the ball into the bottom left corner.
Genoa still without a chance
The game shares changed little in the following period: The Bergamasques dominated – and Samp did not get a single dangerous shot on goal. Pasalic had the 3:0 on his head after a cross from Hateboer, but he nodded the ball just beside the box (37.). And so the team went into the dressing room with a well-deserved 2-0 lead.
After the break the balance of power did not change either, Bergamo kept up the pressure. A beautiful shot from Boga was only saved by Falcone, who made a great save to deflect the ball around the post. A little later, the Genoese had their first good phase of the game and put Caputo in dangerous situations several times. The home Lombards responded ice-cold: Koopmeiners hammered the ball under the crossbar after an assist from substitute Miranchuk and thus ensured the decision (61). The second goal for the 24-year-old, who became the first Dutch brace in Serie A since Sneijder in April 2012.
Miranchuk puts the lid on it
Atalanta then went into administration mode, but had one more in the quiver shortly before the end: Joker Miranchuk moved inside from the right wing in best Robben manner and gave Falcano no chance with his finish into the right corner (86th). The game ended with a deserved 4:0, Atalanta ended their five-game winless streak in the league and consolidated their 5th place ahead of Roma.
