Atalanta bested Bologna 2-0 at the Dall’Ara in Serie A action on Saturday evening and dent their survival hopes.
First half goals from Giuseppe De Luca and Marcelo Estigarribia were enough for the points for high-flying La Dea who make it a record six wins on the spin.
Bologna came into this one looking for the points that could set them on the road to safety while Stefano Colantuono’s attacking outfit were trying to translate their formidable form in Bergamo onto their travels.
It was the excellent Lazaros who had the first chance of the match on five minutes but a weak strike was always going to give Andrea Consigli an easy save from the dead ball attempt.
The following 15 minutes involved central defenders on both sides being sharp to deal with some rather more hit with hope than expectation balls into their area before, on 21 minutes, the visitors managed the breakthrough.
De Luca stole the ball from Diego Perez in the final third before firing a confident finish past Gianluca Curci from just inside the penalty area for his third goal in just four Serie A starts.
Four minutes later it was 2-0 and the 22-year-old attacker this time turned provider. Estigarribia played a wonderful give and go with De Luca, collecting the return before planting an unstoppable effort into the corner for a fine goal and his first in the league for 412 days.
They almost conceded immediately but had Consigli to thank for pulling off a superb reflex stop from Jose Angel Crespo’s rebound but the result was not pleasing fans who launched into a tirade of chants against the players and club to vent their frustration.
Lazaros set up Davide Moscardelli for another effort but his flying header was again tipped around the post very well before Estigarribia almost teed up Giacomo Bonaventura for a killer third but the chance was cleared and 2-0 it stayed at half time.
The hosts did start the second half brightly with Moscardelli and Lazaros both going close to finding the goal that would bring them back into the contest.
Jonatan Cristaldo, on at the break, then tried a looping header which was comfortably saved by Consigli, as the elusive goal looked like it would continue to elude them as the little things began to just go wrong for the Felsinei.
There were a number of half chances for both in the closing stages, but no real promising opportunities, leaving it a comfortable away victory for the Orobici in the end.
