What could have been a tricky away game for Fiorentina turned into a more or less routine win against an uninspired opponent. The viola can now be considered a serious contender for the top slots in the table, but is Atalanta in crisis? It is still early, of course, but three defeats in four games show the orobici have plenty of problems they must overcome to stay in Serie A.
Atalanta vs. Fiorentina: final score 0-2; Fiorentina cruise to another away victory
Even without three key players, the Viola managed to put in another solid performance, beating an uninspired Atalanta side in Bergamo.
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The first half yielded few chances, with Fiorentina intent on keeping the ball. While there was more flow to the side than against Cagliari last round, it still wasn't a brilliant performance. Both teams were too cautious, not wanting to take many risks, and the match was perhaps a little too tactical in the first 45 minutes. Atalanta were happy to let Fiorentina have the ball and tried to punish Viola through counterattacks. Much like the game in Naples last week, Atalanta managed to stay in the game for (almost) one full half, threatening their opponents with quick breaks. A late first half goal by Matias Fernandez seemed to have shocked the home side, making the second half easier for the viola.
Although the nerazzurri tried to get themselves back into the match, they barely troubled Fiorentina. As the game progressed, it looked increasingly as though there was only one team on the pitch. A volley from Joaquin Sanchez forced Andrea Consigli into a save. Shortly thereafter, Giuseppe Rossi hit the side netting, foreshadowing what was about to happen. Rossi grabbed his fourth goal of the season in the 69th minute, chesting down the ball before sending in his half-volleyed strike. With 20 minutes left, the match was virtually finished..
Vincenzo Montella will be particularly happy with young Rafal Wolski, who certainly showed his quality, and had a header stopped by the bar. So too veteran Massimo Ambrosini, who bossed the midfield and created couple of chances for his teammates.
Atalanta: Consigli; Stendardo, Lucchini, Yepes; Migliaccio (Brienza 67’), Brivio (Bonaventura 62’), Raimondi, Moralez (Livaja 74’), Carmona, Baselli, Denis
Fiorentina: Neto, Gonzalo, Tomovic, Savic, Pasqual, Aquilani, Wolski (Joaquin 54'), Ambrosini, Borja Valero, Ferandez (Bakic 70'), Rossi (Matos 80')
Goals: Fernandez (41’), Rossi (69’)
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