- Atalanta came from behind to defeat Udinese 2-1, joining Napoli at the top of Serie A on 25 points.
- Mario Pasalic equalized for Atalanta, followed by an own goal from Udinese’s Isaak Toure.
- Atalanta is on an eight-match unbeaten run and is now considered a legitimate title contender.
- Udinese, who played well in the first half, remain in eighth place with 16 points.
- Roma are set to host Bologna amid reports that coach Ivan Juric will be sacked, with Roberto Mancini tipped to take over.
Atalanta continued their impressive Serie A campaign on Sunday, coming from behind to defeat Udinese 2-1 and move level on points with league leaders Napoli. The victory, secured with goals from Mario Pasalic and an own goal by Udinese’s Isaak Toure, marked Atalanta’s sixth consecutive league win and extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions.
Trailing 1-0 at the break after Hassane Kamara’s thunderous strike put Udinese ahead, Atalanta showed resilience after the interval. Pasalic equalized in the 56th minute with a well-taken first-time shot, before Toure’s own goal gifted Atalanta the lead just minutes later. The win keeps Atalanta in second place with 25 points, level with Napoli, though they have played one game more and cannot finish the day at the top of the table.
Despite this, Atalanta’s form remains remarkable. With eight wins and two draws in their last 10 matches, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side has firmly positioned itself as one of the surprise contenders for their first-ever Serie A title. Under Gasperini’s leadership and the backing of the Percassi family, Atalanta has transformed from a provincial side to a competitive force in Italian football, with last season’s Europa League success marking another significant milestone.
Gasperini himself acknowledged his team’s potential title challenge, admitting recently that Atalanta should be considered Scudetto hopefuls. The team’s ability to recover from a tough first half against Udinese, where they were second best for much of the period, further demonstrated their title credentials.
Meanwhile, Udinese, who had been impressive in the first half, remain in eighth place with 16 points, suffering their third consecutive defeat. Fiorentina and Lazio, who are also in the top half of the table, have the chance to draw level on points with Atalanta in their upcoming matches against Verona and Monza.
In other Serie A news, crisis-hit Roma will face Bologna at home, with reports suggesting that coach Ivan Juric will be sacked regardless of the outcome. Former Italy coach Roberto Mancini is the frontrunner to take over at the Stadio Olimpico.
