Atalanta plunged deeper into crisis after suffering a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Domenico Berardi-inspired Sassuolo, a result that saw the Neroverdi leapfrog them in the Serie A standings and mount further pressure on embattled coach Ivan Juric.
Fresh off a morale-boosting Champions League victory away to Olympique Marseille, Atalanta’s domestic struggles continued as they extended their winless run in Serie A to seven matches, losing back-to-back league games.
Sassuolo, meanwhile, were without Cristian Volpato, Filippo Romagna, Laurs Skjellerup, Daniel Boloca, Yeferson Paz, and Edoardo Pieragnolo, yet still outclassed their hosts in Bergamo.
The hosts came close early on when Ademola Lookman’s fierce effort from 12 yards was dramatically cleared off the line by Jay Idzes, whose brave block left him with a black eye.
Sassuolo made Atalanta pay for their wastefulness when Andrea Pinamonti was fouled by Marco Carnesecchi inside the box, allowing Berardi to slot home from the penalty spot for his second goal in as many games.
Despite Atalanta’s efforts to respond, fortune deserted them as Davide Zappacosta’s strike was inadvertently blocked by teammate Nikola Krstovic.
Moments after the break, the visitors struck again, Berardi dispossessed Lazar Samardzic, dribbled through him with a nutmeg, and set up Pinamonti to double the advantage with a precise finish from 12 yards.
Juric’s men tried to claw their way back as Lookman and Krstovic both tested goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, but Sassuolo sealed the rout late on when Berardi finished off a swift counterattack, latching onto a Kristian Thorstvedt through ball and calmly firing past Carnesecchi.
Nicola Zalewski came close for Atalanta, but by then, the home side looked deflated, suffering their second straight league defeat without scoring, a result that leaves their season hanging in the balance.
