Atalanta celebrated their first victory under coach Maurizio Sarri with a 2-1 win over Sassuolo, thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Nikola Krstovic.

La Dea faced some early nerves following a disappointing 0-0 first leg draw with Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the Conference League play-off, which highlighted challenges in adjusting to Sarri’s tactics. Injuries compounded their woes, with Thomas Kristensen joining Isak Hien, Honest Ahanor, and Kamaldeen Sulemana on the sidelines.

Alberto Aquilani’s Sassuolo also struggled with missing key players such as Domenico Berardi and Andrea Pinamonti following a 3-0 victory over Cesena in the Coppa Italia.

It only took Atalanta six minutes to open the scoring, as Gianluca Gaetano set up Giacomo Raspadori, who unleashed a powerful shot that hit the underside of the crossbar.

Kieron Bowie narrowly missed from a close range following a pull-back from Josh Doig, while Nicola Zalewski had a shot saved at the near post by Arijanet Muric.

Davide Zappacosta nearly added to the score with a strike that clipped the top of the bar during a counter-attack. Armand Laurienté’s attempt was saved, and Marco Carnesecchi reacted quickly to deal with a delicate finish from Vasilije Adzic.

Cristian Volpato kept putting pressure on the Atalanta defense, forcing another save from Carnesecchi. After the break, a defensive effort from Cinquegrano thwarted Raspadori’s attempt to score from six yards out.

Muric made another critical save when he deflected a low shot from Ederson. However, Sassuolo managed to equalize when a long throw from Josh Doig connected with Odilon Kossounou, who inadvertently set up Cas Odenthal to head in from close range.

Atalanta regained their lead when Macchioni inadvertently assisted Nikola Krstovic, who capitalized on the loose ball and successfully drilled it home.

Despite late attempts from both sides, including a spectacular scissor-kick volley from Cinquegrano that went wide, Atalanta held on for the victory.

Atalanta 2-1 Sassuolo

Raspadori 6 (A), Odenthal 55 (S), Krstovic 65 (A)

Atalanta earned their first victory under coach Maurizio Sarri by beating Sassuolo 2-1 with Giacomo Raspadori and Nikola Krstovic goals.

La Dea were a little anxious after the disappointing 0-0 first leg draw with Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the Conference League play-off, confirming difficulty in adapting to Sarri’s tactics. Thomas Kristensen suffered an injury in that game too, joining Isak Hien, Honest Ahanor and Kamaldeen Sulemana on the treatment table.

Advertisement

Alberto Aquilani’s Sassuolo missed Domenico Berardi, Andrea Pinamonti, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Daniel Boloca, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Fali Cande and Ismael Kone after a 3-0 Coppa Italia victory over Cesena.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Maurizio Sarri, Head Coach of Atalanta looks on before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It took just six minutes to break the deadlock, as Cinquegrano failed to clear effectively, so Gianluca Gaetano sent Giacomo Raspadori through for a rocket of a finish off the underside of the crossbar against his hometown club.

BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Giacomo Raspadori of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Advertisement

Kieron Bowie fired over from close range on a Josh Doig pull-back, and Nicola Zalewski forced a fingertip save from Arijanet Muric at the near post.

BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta is challenged by Tommaso Macchioni of Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Davide Zappacosta’s rising strike clipped the top of the bar on the counter-attack, while Armand Laurienté saw a screamer palmed out from under the crossbar, then Marco Carnesecchi was alert on the Vasilije Adzic dinked finish.

Advertisement

Cristian Volpato also stung Carnesecchi’s gloves at the near post, then after the restart Cinquegrano prevented Raspadori tapping in the Zappacosta pull-back from six yards.

BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Ederson of Atalanta is challenged by Cas Odenthal of Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Muric got down to push the Ederson daisy-cutter round the upright, but Sassuolo got their equaliser. Josh Doig’s long throw-in was flicked on by Odilon Kossounou, turning into an accidental assist for Cas Odenthal to nod in from close range.

Advertisement

Atalanta restored their advantage, as Macchioni flicked on the long Carnesecchi goal kick and it fell kindly for Nikola Krstovic, who pounced on the loose ball to drill home.

Lazar Samardzic’s curler flashed just wide, as did the Krstovic attempt, while Eljif Elmas made his Atalanta debut in the final stages.

Cinquegrano threatened a spectacular equaliser in stoppages, but his scissor-kick volley flashed wide of the back stick.

Atalanta 2-1 Sassuolo

Raspadori 6 (A), Odenthal 55 (S), Krstovic 65 (A)