Atalanta delivered a dominant performance, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare, with Charles De Ketelaere proving instrumental with two assists.
Atalanta asserted their dominance in Serie A, dispatching Lecce with a commanding 3-0 victory. Goals from Giorgio Scalvini, Nikola Krstovic, and Giacomo Raspadori sealed the win. De Ketelaere was the architect, providing crucial assists.
The match saw Lecce, languishing in 18th position and battling relegation, host a high-flying Atalanta side pushing for European qualification from 7th. Lecce entered the fixture on a poor run of form, while Atalanta aimed to continue their ascent up the table.
Atalanta started brightly, controlling possession and probing Lecce's defence. Their efforts paid off in the 29th minute when Giorgio Scalvini opened the scoring. Charles De Ketelaere delivered a precise assist, allowing Scalvini to guide the ball home.
Lecce struggled to create meaningful opportunities, registering no shots on target throughout the entire half. Their attempts were often blocked or strayed wide, failing to test Atalanta's goalkeeper.
Despite the early setback, Lecce tried to rally. However, Atalanta's structured defence largely nullified any attacking threat. The visitors maintained their composure and held a comfortable lead at the break.
Lecce needed a significant tactical shift to turn the tide in the second half. Atalanta, meanwhile, looked poised to build on their lead, with their attacking players finding rhythm.
The second half began with a yellow card for Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti in the 47th minute for a foul. Lecce made an early substitution, introducing S. Fofana to add fresh impetus.
Atalanta quickly doubled their advantage, with Nikola Krstovic finding the net in the 59th minute. Once again, Charles De Ketelaere was the provider, setting up Krstovic for a well-taken goal that further solidified Atalanta's control.
The visitors continued their relentless attack. Giacomo Raspadori came off the bench and made an immediate impact, scoring Atalanta’s third goal in the 73rd minute. Mario Pasalic supplied the assist, capping a superb team move.
Lecce made further substitutions, but their efforts to break down Atalanta's resolute defence proved futile. The match concluded with Atalanta firmly in command, having expertly managed the game.
Statistical analysis highlighted Atalanta’s dominance, with an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.2 compared to Lecce's meagre 0.33. Atalanta registered 16 total shots with 6 on target, while Lecce managed 11 total shots but failed to register a single attempt on target. Atalanta also controlled possession with 58%.
