Atalanta drew 1-1 with Genoa on Sunday night at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in Serie A.
Paolo De Ceglie opened the scoring for Genoa in an entertaining first half before the game was changed by Daniele Portanova’s red card early in the second half and while German Denis missed from the subsequent penalty it felt as though Giuseppe De Luca’s late equaliser was inevitable despite the Rossoblu’s defensive efforts.
Genoa hit the post in the 12th minute through Andrea Bertolacci’s low strike from the edge of the area.
The Grifone looked dangerous in the 22nd minute when Ioannis Fetfatzidis squirmed through Atalanta’s defence but his shot was a good height for Andrea Consigli who saved well.
Genoa opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a magnificent team goal after Fetfatzidis slipped in Luca Antonelli on the left who cut the ball back from the byline to Paolo De Ceglie who headed in for his first goal with the Grifone.
La Dea had a great chance in the 38th minute after a cute free kick routine left Giacamo Bonaventura alone in the area but he squared the ball on the volley to an offside Gugliemo Stendardo who missed the target.
Genoa looked threatening on the break in the 40th minute but Sime Vrsjalko could not make contact with a cut back from the left wing.
The Orobici pushed forwards in injury time at the end of the first half but the Rossoblu defenders dealt with their crosses into the area and so the away side went in a goal up.
Atalanta won a penalty five minutes after the restart and Portanova was sent off for tripping German Denis when he was through on goal.
Denis stepped up to take the penalty but despite its power, his spot kick was too central to beat Mattia Perin who dived to his right.
With the man advantage Atalanta started to control possession, but were largely reduced to attempting to score from crosses and long balls as Genoa defended resolutely.
Yohan Benalouane hit the bar with a header in the 66th minute after Perin was blocked by a crowd of players and unable to claim a dropping ball.
Denis wasted another great chance just minutes later after being left alone in the area but the Argentine headed over when he should have scored after being set up by Luca Cigarini.
Benalouane missed the target from close range in the 77th after the ball bounced just in front of the Nerazzurri man.
Genoa appealed for a penalty in the 81st minute when Bertolacci went down but the referee was probably correct not to give it.
Atalanta got their deserved equaliser in the 82nd minute through De Luca who acrobatically turned the ball in after it looped up into the air following Perin’s save off Stendardo but replays showed De Luca was offside.
Alberto Gilardino also went down demanding a penalty in the 88th minute, but again the referee was not interested.
Atalanta laid late siege to the Genoa goal in injury time but failed to create a clear chance and the points were shared.
