Parma beat Atalanta 3-0 at the New Balance Arena in Serie A. The result gave Parma their first away win of this season’s league campaign and moved them out of the relegation zone.
Match and goals
The match kicked off at 20:45 CET, with Valerio Crezzini as referee. Giovanni Fabbian scored Parma's first goal, Davide Zappacosta diverted El Bilal Toure's delivery into his own net, and Simone Lontani added the third.
Nikola Krstovic had a goal ruled out for offside during the build-up. In first-half stoppage time, Giovanni Daffara saved Nicola Zalewski's volley, while Mario Pasalic's close-range header struck the bar.
Line-ups and team news
Atalanta started with Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Obrić, Scalvini, Bernasconi; Pašalić, Ederson; Rowe, De Ketelaere, Zalewski; Krstović. Parma started with Daffara; Drobnič, Troilo, Delprato; Britschgi, Fabbian, Sierro, Keita, Valeri; Lontani, Touré.
Giorgio Scalvini returned to the Atalanta defence and was back in the squad. Giovanni Fabbian replaced the injured Adrián Bernabé in the Parma midfield, while Simone Lontani partnered El Bilal Touré in attack. Bernabé missed out after feeling a muscle problem in his left leg in training on Sunday, and Elphege was back in the squad after appendicitis surgery.
Background before kick-off
Parma were in the bottom three on five points in Serie A before the match. Alberto Gilardino had still been looking for his first win since replacing Carlos Cuesta at the end of September, and Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Udinese had been his first point after three straight defeats. Bernabé had also had a penalty saved against Udinese.
Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri had warned his side not to underestimate Parma, pointing to their low block and threat on the counter.
Atalanta's recent run
Following the defeat, Atalanta's winless run in all competitions was extended to five games. They had not won at home since beating Venezia on 12 October, with their previous home game ending in a 4-4 draw against Frosinone. They then drew 2-2 at Fiorentina on Thursday, when Charles De Ketelaere and Nicola Zalewski scored.
Atalanta called up only 19 players. Gianluca Gaetano had a medium-grade adductor strain in his right thigh and Thomas Kristensen suffered a low-grade hamstring strain in his left thigh, with both injured in Florence and due back after the international break. Raoul Bellanova, Gianluca Scamacca, Giacomo Raspadori, Sead Kolašinac, Franck Kessié, Isak Hien, Odilon Kossounou and Pompei were also out. Parma will host Bologna on Saturday.
