Atalanta took on Chievo Verona this afternoon in a clash between Serie A struggers, with the Nerazzurri looking for their first away win of the season.
Chievo went into the match with just one win from six league games and fell behind inside 20 minutes, with Maxi Moralez doing the damage in acrobatic fashion.
The hosts came agonisingly close to an equaliser late on through Sergio Pellissier, but his effort came back off the crossbar as Chievo suffered a demoralising home defeat.
Look back at a bad night for the Flying Donkeys with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary from Verona below.
Hello Calcio fans. Round seven from Serie A kicks off with what could well be an early relegation six-pointer at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi this afternoon, as Chievo entertain Atalanta BC.
Chievo have taken just four points from their first six matches this season, thanks largely to a solitary victory over Udinese. Giuseppe Sannino'side have struggled for goals but get a chance to beat a direct rival in the fight for survival today as they come up against Atalanta.
Atalanta have fared only slightly better in a fairly uninspiring start to the season, but do look difficult to beat, particularly at home. In German Denis they also have a striker fit and firing at long last, following a brace against Udinese last weekend.
Terrible away from has blighted Atalana's hopes of mid-table obscurity so far this season, with the visitors losing on their last five trips away from Bergamo. Today's clash with Chievo coach Stefano Colantuono's side with a perfect opportunity to address that wretched run of results.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received word on the starting XI's from Verona and there is a notable change for Chievo in attack, with Alberto Paloschi returning to the starting lineup. A full look at both sides will follow shortly!
Chievo: Puggioni; Sardo, Claiton, Bernardini, Drame; Improta, Bentivoglio, Rigoni, Estigarribia; Paloschi, Thereau
Atalanta: Consigli; Bellini, Stendardo, Brivio, Lucchini; Raimondi, Cigarini, Carmona, Bonaventura; Maxi Moralez; Denis
Paloschi's inclusion is a big boost for Chievo, with the former Milan youngster partneting Cyril Thereau in attack. Atalanta have also named a relatively attacking lineup this afternoon, with Denis supported by Giacomo Bonaventura and Maxi Moralez in advanced positions.
PREDICTION! Both sides are out in Verona, which just gives me a chance to predict a match full of chances for both sides. Three points are there to be taken by the team which proves to be more clinical in front of goal, and I think Chievo can make that happen to claim only their second win of the campaign.
A slight delay to kickoff for an impeccably observed minutes silence, in what it has to be said is a sparsely populated stadium in Verona.
Atalanta get us underway and are immediately on the attack thanks to a long ball cleared upfield, which Raimondi heads away.
Stendardo gets an early foot in on Bonaventura in scrappy start to the match, with Claiton then given a stern warning from the referee after catching Denis with a stay elbow as the pair jostled in an aerial challenge.
Carmona is very lucky to get away with controlling with his arm inside the penalty area, with Chievo's appeals turned away as they have to settle for a corner kick. When the cross comes in Rigoni's flick-on finds Paloschi, who heads wide from around 12 yards.
Paloschi begins a confident start by trying an audacious effort from just inside his own half after spotting Consigli off his line, but sends a speculative strike high and wide.
YELLOW CARD! Bentivoglio gets an early caution for a petulant trip in midfield, with a continued argument with the referee not doing the youngster any favours. I highly doubt that will be the last caution we see this afternoon.
Atalanta win their first corner kick as Carmona gets clear down the right, crossing towards Bonaventura at the back post. Luckily for Chievo Sardo read the danger, with Stendardo's flick header cleared quickly when the corner comes in.
CHANCE! Chievo should really be ahead as Paloschi smashes over from close range. The striker reacted quickest as a home corner bounced off Brivio in the box, but his first-time effort lacked composure and flew over the crossbar.
GOAL! Chievo 0-1 Atalanta (Moralez)
Just moments after wasting that chance Chievo fall behind at home thanks to an acrobatic effort from Moralez. The diminutive Argentine was put through by Raimondi's header towards the back post and made no mistake, swivelling to find the bottom corner. Chievo keeper Puggioni should probably have done better, but the visitors lead nonetheless.
Chievo almost produce an instant response as Thereau finds space just outside the penalty area, curling high and wide from 20 yards despite having time to do better. A surprisingly open start at both ends.
Sanino looks very disappointed as a Chievo free kick drifts through harmlessly to Consigli, while at the other end Moralex belies his lack of height as he clatters into Claiton.
Denis just looks to flick inside but is shut down quickly by Bellini. The forward has been quiet so far this evening, but the Nerazzurri lead regardless.
A lengthy stoppage here to allow Moralez to receive treatment under a challenge from Rigoni, perhaps some retribution for that earlier lunge on Claiton. When play resumes Denis picks up the ball up in space out wide, turning neatly before laying off as the visitors keep possession confidently high up the pitch.
MISS! Estigarribia has just wasted a glorious opportunity to level from close range. The Paraguayan was played through in acres of space by a flick from Paloschi, but with the goal gaping went for the near post and could only slam into the side-netting. An awful miss in truth!
This time it's Atalanta's turn to threaten as Drame's deflection just denies Moralez the chance to cross at the far post. From the corner kick Denis is nearly teed up for a volley, but miscues.
Raimondi's terrific covering challenge stops Drame driving down the line for Chievo, as the visitors concede a corner kick. Estigarribia takes short and wastes the chance, with Paloschi flagged for offside as he chests towards goal at the far post.
Paloschi continues a frustrating first period by snatching at an effort from distance. The forward has yet to hit the target this afternoon, as we head towards first-half stoppage time.
HALF TIME Chievo 0-1 Atalanta
The referee brings the first half to a close, with Atalanta holding a narrow lead thanks to an instinctive effort from Moralez. Atalanta are 45 minutes away from their first every win away from home against Chievo.
Chievo boss Sannino will be furious with his side's wasteful finishing in the first half, a trait which has blighted their start to the season. Paloschi and Estigarribia both somehow managed to miss the target from point-blank range. The Flying Donkeys have it all to do after the interval.
Atalanta have carried a consistent threat on the counter, thanks largely to the goalscorer Moralez showing invention and purpose in a free role. The diminutive Argentine is capable of brilliance on his day, but those performances have been few and far between in Nerazzurri colours.
BENCH WATCH! If Chievo fail to produce a response expect Sannino to make changes after the interval. Sebastian Pellissier looks the most likely option in attack, while Perparim Hetemaj or Alessio Setsu could provide creative spark in midfield.
Back underway at the Bentegodi as Chievo win a corner kick inside 30 seconds, but once again the delivery is poor.
Atalanta have sat alarmingly deep since the interval and concede a free kick around 35 yards from goal, which Consigli comes off his line to catch confidently.
Thereau wants a penalty kick after going down under a sliding challenge from Bellini in the box, but the referee decides that the defender got a toe on the ball. A very difficult call but I think the official got that one right, with the merest touch taking the ball out for a corner kick.
Strong hold-up play from Bonaventura helps Atalanta relieve some early pressure in the second half. Chievo really need to find a killer pass in the final third if they want to restore parity.
SAVE! Raimondi hammers a thunderbolt towards the top corner from at least 30 yards out, a fine strike that requires a strong stop at full stretch from Puggioni. Things nearly went from bad to worse there for Chievo.
SUBSTITUTION: Chievo make an attacking change as Pellissier replaces Paloschi in attack. The forward provides a more direct, physcial presence in the final third and gives the Flying Donkeys options as they bid to find a way back into the match.
Denis nearly sees a deflected effort creep inside the far corner as Atalanta go within a whisker of extending their advantage. The Argentine was convinced he had scored, but has to make do with a corner kick.
SUBSTITUTION: Chievo make their second change as Hetemaj comes on for the largely anonymous Improta in central midfield. The Finland international has plenty of time to help his side force a response now, in a reshaped forward line built to be more direct.
Atalanta are dropping a little too deep for the visiting supporters, with a break in play forced by a nasty clash of heads between Paloschi and Lucchini, who both look to be bleeding from cuts.
Paloschi has been patched up with a hairnet, as he returns looking like a factory worked protecting his hair for health and safety. When play resumes there is another stoppage almost instantly as Bernardini goes to ground, clutching his shoulder after an awkward fall.
SUBSTITUTION: Bernardini is unable to continue with that shoulder problem as Chievo are forced into their final change prematurely, bringing on Cesar as his replacement. Atalanta meanwhile have withdrawn the goalscorer Moralez, with youngster Baselli taking his place.
Pellissier gets his first sight of goal after a neat flick from Paloschi, but despite watching the ball loop up cannot catch his volley cleanly, scuffing his effort wide of the far post.
Sardo wins a header under pressure from Cigarini, sending the midfielder to the floor with a heavy thud. The Chievo man takes exception to Cigarini staying down and running down the clock, leading to angry confrontation which the referee has to break up.
SUBSTITUTION: Time for Atalanta to shut up shop as Bonaventura is replaced by Brienza on the left flank, who will sit in front of Brivio in the closing stages to protect their slender advantage.
SAVE! Pellissier has just been denied a late equaliser by a wonderful save from Consigli. The Nerazzurri keeper somehow managed to tip his header from six yards onto the crossbar, with a rebound blocked behind for a corner by a last-ditch block from Lucchini. Wow that was close!
SUBSTITUTION: Atalanta react to that close shave by bringing on an extra defender for the final few minutes, with Yepes replacing Raimondi. After that nasty clash of heads I think we can expect a significant amount of added time, so Chievo are still alive.
YELLOW CARD! Cesar vents his frustration at the official after conceding a cheap free kick. His mood may be improved by a message from the fourth official though, with five minutes added on.
Drame pumps another long ball into the penalty area for Cheivo, but the hopeful cross is headed clear with authority by Stendardo, with Yepes able to hammer clear with his first touch on the follow-up.
WIDE! Bentivoglio has gone within inches of a last-gasp equaliser for Chievo. The midfielder reacted quickest in the area to hammer at goal, but his effort deflected through a packed penalty area before drifting inches wide of the far post.
FULL TIME Chievo 0-1 Atalanta
Despite that late scare Atalanta have held on for their first away win of the season, thanks to an early strike from Maxi Moralez. That win lifts the Nerazzurri to eighth in Serie A. Chievo meanwhile have now lost five of their first seven games, relegation form without question.
That just about does it for Sports Mole's first action from Serie A this weekend. Be sure to stick with us though for some blockbuster clashes from Italy, with Inter vs. Roma followed up by tomorrow's clash between Juventus and AC Milan. Good evening!
