Atalanta beats Venezia 3-1 behind Franck Kessié goal

Atalanta Secures Victory Over Venezia Behind Kessié’s Opening Strike

Midfielder Franck Kessié scored his first Serie A goal in over four years to help Atalanta defeat Venezia 3-1, ending a three-match losing skid under manager Maurizio Sarri. The Ivory Coast international opened the scoring in the fourth minute, latching onto a long ball from Nikola Krstović before lifting a subtle chip over goalkeeper Filip Stankovic. After winning against Sassuolo (2-1) and Bologna (1-0) at the start of the Serie A, they had chained three consecutive defeats against Roma (2-1), Cagliari (1-2) and Juventus (2-0).

Returning to Bergamo After Saudi Arabia and Barcelona Stints

Kessié returned to European football by rejoining Atalanta following a stint with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, where he won two consecutive Asian Champions League titles and scored 26 goals with 15 assists. The midfielder originally arrived in Bergamo in 2015 at age 18, making 35 appearances and scoring eight goals before moving to AC Milan in 2017 for a €32 million transfer fee. Between his spells in Italy, he spent a single season at FC Barcelona starting in the summer of 2022 alongside Christensen, Raphinha, Koundé, and Robert Lewandowski, subsequently maintaining a visible connection to the Catalan club through social media and a trip to the 2025 Spanish Super Cup final as an attendee.

Chasing Ambitions Across Domestic and European Fronts

Reflecting on his comeback to the club that launched his European career, Kessié stated that his decision was driven by emotional ties. When you are a free agent, it’s normal that other teams are interested, he said during his official presentation, adding that returning to Bergamo felt like coming home. Bérgamo was the first city in Europe that I knew when I left Ivory Coast at 18, and Fue como volver a casa, un sueño hecho realidad Regresar aquí después de 11 años obedeció a una elección sincera, pero también tengo que demostrarlo en el campo. The midfielder carries high expectations for the current campaign, stating that Atalanta aims to compete for the Scudetto, the Copa, the Conference, and to qualify for the Champions League.

Milestone Goals and San Siro Reunion on the Horizon

The opening strike against Venezia marked Kessié’s first goal in the Italian top flight in four years and 143 days, dating back to his tenure with AC Milan. His previous competitive goal for Atalanta dated back to Dec. 20, 2016, marking a span of nine years and 296 days between goals for the club. The timing of his resurgence aligns with an upcoming league fixture against his former club AC Milan at San Siro, where the player known during his Rossoneri years as ‘Il Presidente’ prepares to face his old supporters for the first time since his departure.