Serie A | Cagliari 0-1 Atalanta: Perfect 10 with Zaniolo | OneFootball

Nicolò Zaniolo came off the bench to snatch Atalanta’s 10th consecutive Serie A victory and maintain their leadership, but Marco Carnesecchi performed five huge saves to deny Cagliari.

La Dea were top of the table after nine straight victories, but also irritated by the midweek 3-2 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Mateo Retegui returned to the starting XI, with Ademola Lookman and Marten de Roon among those rested, Juan Cuadrado, Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca not fully fit. The Sardinians had a full squad to choose from, including Atalanta products Roberto Piccoli and Nadir Zortea.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

Odilon Kossounou sprinted back to prevent Piccoli getting the shot away on a rapid counter-attack, while Marco Brescianini’s angled drive flashed just wide of the far post.

Cagliari had penalty appeals for Kossounou’s handling offence, but as he came sliding in and the Alessandro Deiola pull-back ricocheted off his leg first onto the arm, it was not considered intentional.

Marco Carnesecchi was called to make three huge saves in the same move. First he flew to claw away a scuffed Piccoli half-volley that looped up in an odd way, then used his legs to parry the Piccoli effort from eight yards, followed by a save on the Zortea follow-up.

Carnesecchi used his stomach to charge down another Piccoli attempt from point-blank range on a Yerry Mina knock-down in first half stoppages.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Marco Carnesecchi of Atalanta in action during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Atalanta at Sardegna Arena on December 14, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Gian Piero Gasperini was unimpressed and made three substitutions at half-time, including Isak Hien not fully fit. It almost made a big difference straight away, as Mario Pasalic prodded over from close range on a Charles De Ketelaere cross.

Zito Luvumbo hobbled off after spraining his ankle and Berat Djimsiti’s glancing header flashed wide, while Pasalic turned over from six yards on a Matteo Ruggeri cross and Kossounou forced a save on the Pasalic knock-down.

The substitutions really made an impact, because within a couple of minutes Lazar Samardzic’s cross had been knocked back from the by-line by Raoul Bellanova for the Nicolò Zaniolo tap-in from six yards. Just like when he scored against Roma, Zaniolo was then booked for over-celebrating near the Cagliari fans.

Moments later, Ademola Lookman cut inside from the left and fired low to thump the base of the near post, very similar to the goal he scored midweek against Real Madrid.

Cagliari poured forward seeking a late equaliser, Carnesecchi denying a diving Yerry Mina header from six yards, then another extraordinary save in stoppages on Leonardo Pavoletti’s header from point-blank range.

Atalanta had the chance to seal it on the counter, but Sebastiano Luperto kept up with Zaniolo and tackled him one-on-one.

Zaniolo 66 (A)