MONZA, Italy — Atalanta moved two points clear at the top of Italy’s Serie A after they secured a 2-0 win at bottom-placed Monza.
Atalanta were unable to break through Monza’s defence in the first half as they faced a promoted side who were determined to secure their first points of the season before the visitors came out a more aggressive unit in the second half.
Rasmus Hojlund scored the opening goal of the game in the 57th minute when Ademola Lookman found the Danish striker in the box where he shot into the bottom left corner with one touch.
Atalanta doubled the lead eight minutes later through an own goal when Lookman’s cut-back pass was deflected into Monza’s net by defender Marlon.
“We took a risk in the first few minutes, then we came out on top,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said after the game according to Reuters.
“It has never happened in Atalanta’s history to be on top alone in the standings, it’s a credit to these guys and it’s a very good thing for the people and for us.”
Atalanta are now on top of the league with 13 points, two ahead of Napoli and champions AC Milan.
Gasperini also praised Hojlund after the 19-year-old scored his first goal for the club after signing from Austrian side Sturm Graz.
“We were convinced from the very first training session. He has very good characteristics for a 19-year-old, we need to work on him but he has a great future,” Gasperini said.
Monza are the third team in Serie A history to lose their first five games of the season after Trevisio (2005) and Benevento (2017).
Elsewhere, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba may not return to action for the Serie A club until January due to a knee injury which requires surgery, manager Massimiliano Allegri said, casting doubts over the Frenchman’s World Cup participation.
Last month Pogba decided not to have surgery after damaging his meniscus in training following his move back to Juve from Manchester United in the close season but Allegri said circumstances had changed after he tried to train again.
“This morning he trained for the second time but then stopped and it was then decided that he undergo surgery. We will realistically get him back in January,” Allegri told reporters before Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Paris St Germain.
Allegri was unsure if 29-year-old Pogba would be ready for France’s world title defence at the 21 November – 18 December World Cup in Qatar, adding: “The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’ problem is that he comes back in January.”
Pogba was instrumental in France’s World Cup victory in 2018 in Russia, scoring in the final where they beat Croatia 4-2 to lift the trophy after a gap of 20 years. He has scored 11 goals in 91 appearances for France.
Juve’s Angel Di Maria is another new recruit who is injured and Allegri said the Argentine winger will not be risked.
“We didn’t want to risk Angel right now, as many important matches await us,” he said.
“(Leonardo) Bonucci, (Dusan) Vlahovic, (Adrien) Rabiot and (Mattia) Perin are the only ones certain of playing tomorrow night. I have yet to decide on the rest.”
Juventus and PSG are in Champions League Group H with Benfica and Maccabi Haifa. Allegri said his side would need at least 10 points to qualify for the knockout stages, adding that PSG are one of the title favourites.
“We face an opponent who is among the strongest in Europe, who this year I count as a favourite for the final,” Allegri said. “Tomorrow will be a good match, and we will certainly aim to play a great game from a technical point of view.”
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