Lazar Samardžić scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Atalanta BC snatched a narrow 1-0 victory over Bologna, condemning Domenico Tedesco’s side to a second consecutive Serie A game without a goal despite creating several promising opportunities.
Bologna started brightly in Bergamo, looking to respond to their narrow defeat against Lazio in their previous outing. They appeared to benefit from having a full week to prepare, while Atalanta had been involved in UEFA Conference League action in midweek.
The visitors created the first real opening when Odilon Kossounou’s lapse allowed Nicolò Cambiaghi to race into the penalty area, but the Bologna forward could only produce a tame effort straight at Marco Carnesecchi.
The Atalanta goalkeeper was tested more seriously shortly before the 20-minute mark, making an excellent save to his right to deny Jens Odgaard’s driven effort towards the far corner.
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Carnesecchi continued to keep Atalanta alive and produced his finest stop of the opening half just before the break, reacting quickly to keep out Lewis Ferguson’s close-range attempt. The effort would have required an offside review had it found the net.
Bologna remained the more dangerous side after the interval and came agonisingly close to taking the lead within 10 minutes of the restart. Cambiaghi beat Carnesecchi but saw his powerful effort crash against the far post.
The Rossoblù continued to press for a breakthrough, with Federico Bernardeschi forcing another impressive save from an inspired Carnesecchi as Bologna squandered their chances.
Their failure to convert ultimately proved costly. With the match seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Samardžić produced a stunning 96th-minute winner, drilling a long-range effort through the Bologna defence and beyond Łukasz Skorupski, who was unable to prevent Atalanta from snatching all three points.
The late strike secured a second consecutive league victory for Maurizio Sarri’s side and delivered a cruel blow to Bologna, who end matchday two among the seven Serie A teams still without a point.
