Torino 0-0 Atalanta: Granata and La Dea struggle in stalemate

Date: 2nd November 2014 at 5:04pm
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Torino and Atalanta drew 0-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon in Serie A action.

Both sides were looking to improve on an indifferent start as both sides languished in the bottom half of the standings going into the encounter.

However, neither side could find the clinical edge in front of goal as both teams struggled in the final third, despite Torino’s Jean-Francois Gillet saving a superb diving header in the first half.

Torino looked the more confident side in the opening exchanges and controlled the majority of the possession in the opening ten minutes but could not challenge the Nerazzurri in the final third.

Atalanta were focussed on playing a physical game and gave away several free kicks from needless challenges but the Granata struggled work these into any goal scoring opportunities.

Torino’s influence finally caused Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello some issues who was forced to palm away a curling ball directly from a corner kick, in addition to making a number of commanding catches and punches from Giuseppe Vives crosses from the left flank.

Il Toro coach Giampiero Ventura looked visibly frustrated on the touchline as his side squandered several set pieces until Emiliano Moretti had an excellent opportunity to score with the first shot of the game in the 29th minute.

A free kick on the right flank was looped into the box to meet the head of the defender but the former Valencia man could not find the bottom corner as the attempt sailed just wide of the near post.

Atalanta found a footing in the game towards the end of the first half and nearly took the lead as a diving Guglielmo Stendardo header forced Torino goalkeeper Gillet into a fine point blank save as he tipped the ball round the post.

The second half began where the first half left off with few chances created in the final third.

Omar El Kaddouri had the best of the early chances for Torino when the ball found the Moroccan in the box, however, his effort was blocked as three Atalanta defenders dived in the way of the shot to block the effort.

Atalanta came close moments later as a cross was chested down by Richmond Boakye in the box but the Ghanaian could not keep his effort down as the shot sailed over the bar.

Substitute Amauri chested down for Matteo Darmian who had an effort from outside of the box for the home side but the shot sailed harmlessly wide and Giulio Migliaccio could not reach a cross on the slide for the away side as both teams continued to struggle in front of goal.

Amauri caused Sportiello difficulty as he scooped the ball away under pressure from Pontus Jansson before the ‘keeper could kick the ball away to safety.

Both sides made changes in an attempt to create opportunities up front as substitute Rolando Bianchi had a shot from distance for Atalanta and Torino had several tame efforts blocked as the game looked as it was headed towards a stalemate.

Neither side could find the golden touch as Torino hit the bar in stoppages from an Alexander Farnerud free kick as the game finished 0-0, ensuring both sides remain in the bottom half of the Serie A standings with 12 and nine points respectively.

 

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