Already relegated Catania defeated Atalanta 2-1 at the Stadio Massimino on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.
Franceso Lodi’s opener and a late Gonzalo Bergessio penalty either side of a Moussa Kone strike claimed victory for the home side .
It was the visitors who started off the better and had the early chances when just after two minutes German Denis wriggled his way past two defenders, but his weak shot was easily saved by Alberto Frison. Minutes later Maxi Moralez saw his free-kick clear the cross-bar by just a few inches.
Catania’s first opportunity of note came just after the quarter hour, when Bergessio found himself one-on-one with the keeper but his tame shot was straight at Marco Sportiello on what was just his fourth appearance of the season.
Arguably the best chance of the half came on the half hour mark as Franco Brienza extravagantly dinked the ball over the home side defence, into the path of Denis who fired wide on the stretch.
Although La Dea had the upper hand both teams found it difficult to break the other down with any urgency and neither could keep any sustained possession meaning they went into the break goalless.
The home side had two chances in quick succession early in the second half as Francesco Fedato’s run and shot was held by Sportiello and Bergessio was also denied by the keeper after his curling effort from the edge of the box.
The next chance fell to the Nerazzurri as Yohan Benalouane’s header from a Moralez corner was tipped over the bar by Frison.
Catania were growing as the match went on and the deadlock was finally broken by them in the 65th minute.
Mattia Caldara inexplicably passed the ball to Bergessio on the edge of his own box who played in the substitute Francesco Lodi and he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Elefanti hit the woodwork just three minutes later as Fabian Monzon had the space to run down the line and put in a fine cross for Fedato whose diving header crashed off the woodwork.
Catania should have doubled their lead when Bergessio’s header look destined for the top corner but Sportiello acrobatically tipped the ball away.
With 10 minutes to play Catania were made to pay for their missed opportunities as Atalanta equalized.
After Denis’ shot was deflected on to the bar it was Kone who darted in to the box to fire the ball home to put the visitors on level terms.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the first minute of injury time when an Benalouane handled inside the box.
Bergessio struck the ball into the bottom corner for his tenth goal of the season and to end the clubs eight year stay in the division with a victory.
