Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel start Series A with victory

Duván Zapata and Luis Fernando Muriel debuted in Serie A 2022 – 2023 with a win. Atalanta de Bergamo beat Sampdoria 0-2 for the first day at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa. The two Colombian forwards were starters, while Jeison Murillo started on the substitute bench for the local team and entered added time.

Great play by Duván and Tolói scores

The game started very evenly with both teams trying to impose their idea of ​​the game. The locals defended well and sought to play from behind, while the Bergamo team dominated possession of the ball, but they were not deep. At minute 14 the scoring was opened by Francesco Caputo, but the central judge annulled the goal play, after reviewing the VAR, due to a previous foul by Mehdi Léris.

With the passing of the minutes Atalanta was gaining prominence and began to generate dangerous plays, starting with a shot inside the small area by Joakim Maehle that crashed into the post when the rival goalkeeper was already beaten. Luis Fernando Muriel played a little further away from the area and although he did not have clear shots, he was important in generating play.

At minute 26 came the first goal of the commitment with a great play by Duván Zapata. The Colombian striker received inside the area and reached the bottom line where he feinted and eluded a defender who slid past him. After hooking, he sent a cross to the far post for Mario Pašalić who headed the ball down for Rafael Tolói to convert in the six-yard box.

Atalanta increases the advantage

Atalanta went to complement in search of the second and took the game to the opposite field. Duván Zapata and Luis Fernando Muriel were key in creating offensive game circuits in the opposite field, but they did not have the depth and clarity necessary to extend the advantage. Sampdoria, for its part, defended well but it was difficult when passing three-quarters of the pitch.

Gian Piero Gasperini decided to give the attacking front a new look and brought out Luis Fernando Muriel to make way for one of his new reinforcements, the Nigerian Ademola Lookman. However, the first big dangerous play of the second half was for the locals. Abdelhamid Sabiri took a free kick from the edge of the area, but his shot crashed into the vertical of the left hand of goalkeeper Juan Musso.

The party was closing and the scoring options diminished. Sampdoria protested all arbitration actions and the match began to get out of hand for the central judge. Atalanta defended defended the advantage as best she could. At minute 89 and already to play added time, Jeison Murillo joined the local team to replace Alex Ferrari.

At 90 + 4 ‘the second came. Ruslan Malinovskyi commanded a counterattack and assisted with a filtered pass to Ademola Lookman who advanced until entering the area, hooked to leave behind a rival defense and finished off with a left foot to beat goalkeeper Emil Audero again, who could do little to stop the shot.

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On the next day, Duván Zapata and Muriel will receive Milan with Atalanta, while Jeison Murillo and Sampdoria will be local again and will have a tough challenge against Juventus.