On Wednesday, Atalanta “saved Italian football”. At least, that’s what the headlines said after their sensational 4-1 win over Dortmund that overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit and ensured Serie A representation in the last 16 of the Champions League. Yet on Sunday they could not save themselves from defeat to Sassuolo.
This ought to have been so much easier. Their opponents were a man down from the 16th minute, when Andrea Pinamonti was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Berat Djimsiti. Perhaps Atalanta let complacency creep in, multiplied by exhaustion from their midweek exertions. Or maybe Sassuolo deserve all the credit for the resilience they have developed this season under Fabio Grosso.
