Atalanta secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Monza, cementing their third-place position in Serie A and relegating the hosts. Charles De Ketelaere was instrumental, scoring twice within the first 23 minutes.
His first goal came after a skilful dribble past two defenders, while the second capitalised on a defensive error by Monza.
Ademola Lookman extended Atalanta’s lead shortly after halftime with a well-placed left-footed shot. Monza’s hopes were further dashed when Omari Forson’s header was expertly saved by Marco Carnesecchi. Marco Brescianini added the final goal for Atalanta just before the match ended, leaving Monza at the bottom of the table, 12 points behind Lecce.
Atalanta’s current tally stands at 68 points with three games left, while Lazio follows with 63 points. Juventus trails in fifth place with 62 points but has yet to play Bologna. This season, Atalanta has matched Barcelona for the most away points in Europe’s top five leagues, accumulating 39 points on the road.
The team’s success is also attributed to their solid defence. Goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi achieved his 14th clean sheet of the season, surpassing Andrea Consigli’s record of 13 clean sheets from the 2011-12 season. This defensive strength complements their attacking prowess.
Mateo Retegui contributed significantly with two assists during the match. He has been involved in more goals than any other Atalanta player this season, with a total of 31 contributions (24 goals and seven assists) since data collection began in 2003-04.
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Historical Context and Future Prospects
This season marks one of Atalanta’s best performances in Serie A history. They have accumulated more points only twice before: 74 points in the 2019-20 season and 72 points in the following year after playing 35 matches. Their expected goals against Monza were significantly higher at 2.58 compared to Monza’s mere 0.59.
Their impressive form this season highlights both offensive and defensive capabilities, positioning them as strong contenders for maintaining their top-three finish as they approach the final rounds of Serie A.