Atalanta returns to the path of victories

Atalanta returned to the path of victory after three consecutive defeats, beating bottom-of-the-table Venezia, who remain winless, 3-1 in the final match of the sixth round of the Italian Serie A on Saturday. Atalanta sealed the result in the first half with three goals, two of them scored within two minutes. The opening goal came from Ivorian Frank Kessie, returning to Italy from Saudi club Al Ahli (4th minute), assisted by Montenegrin Nikola Krstović, who doubled the lead (6th minute). Kessie then added his second personal goal and Atalanta’s third (30th minute). This was Krstović’s third goal in the league this season, and his first since the 2-1 win against Sassuolo in the opening round. Venezia reduced the deficit before the first-half whistle with a goal from French forward Antoine Ilo (37th minute). The second half saw the dismissal of Atalanta’s attacking midfielder Eljif Elmas, who provided the assist for the opening goal, with a red card just one minute before the end of regular time. Atalanta had suffered three consecutive defeats in Serie A against Roma and Cagliari, both 2-1, and Juventus 2-0, prior to the international break, after two consecutive wins at the start of the campaign against Sassuolo and Bologna, both 1-0. With this victory, Atalanta moved up to 9 points in 10th place, with three wins and three losses, while deepening the misery of Venezia, who remain winless after their sixth consecutive defeat, leaving them at the bottom of the table. Torino secured their second win of the season with a 2-1 victory over visiting Udinese. The home side took the lead through Portuguese midfielder Daniel Bragança (36th minute), and the visitors equalized thanks to Dutch forward Jurgen Ekkelenkamp (43rd minute), before substitute Sandro Kulenović handed Torino all three points (67th minute). Torino moved up to 7 points in 12th place, while Udinese remained on 4 points in 15th place after their fourth loss.