Atalanta 2-1 Sassuolo: Dea get first success under Sarri
Quick summary
Atalanta secured a 2-1 home victory over Sassuolo in Serie A, earning their first win under new manager Maurizio Sarri.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAtalanta 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.
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) 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.
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.
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)
23-08-2026 19:45
MatchDay 1
New Balance Arena (Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia)
Atalanta
Sassuolo
2 - 1
Player statistic
1st half
Giacomo Raspadori (Assist: Gianluca Gaetano)
6'
2nd half
55'
Cas Odenthal
Nikola Krstovic
65'
Match statistic
56
Possession %
44
14
Total shots
22
7
Shots on target
8
4
Shots off target
9
3
Blocked shots
5
4
Corners
4
0
Offsides
1
9
Fouls
10
Atalanta
Sassuolo
Starting lineups
29
Marco Carnesecchi Goalkeeper
77
Davide Zappacosta Defender
42
Giorgio Scalvini Defender
47
Lorenzo Bernasconi Defender
71'
3
Odilon Kossounou Defender
13
Éderson Midfielder
70
Gianluca Gaetano Midfielder
8
Mario Pasalic Midfielder
60'
59
Nicola Zalewski Midfielder
60'
18
Giacomo Raspadori Attacker
82'
9
Gianluca Scamacca Attacker
60'
49
Arijanet Muric Goalkeeper
26
Cas Odenthal Defender
3
Josh Doig Defender
46
Simone Cinquegrano Defender
31
Tommaso Macchioni Defender
74'
7
Cristian Volpato Midfielder
50
Darryl Bakola Midfielder
18
Nemanja Matic Midfielder
74'
17
Vasilije Adžić Midfielder
64'
45
Armand Lauriente Attacker
9
Kieron Bowie Attacker
Substitutes
16
Raoul Bellanova Defender
15
Marten de Roon Midfielder
57
Marco Sportiello Goalkeeper
6
Ibrahim Sulemana Midfielder
95
Paolo Vismara Goalkeeper
49
Federico Cassa Midfielder
40
Relja Obric Defender
10
Lazar Samardžić Midfielder
60'
17
Charles De Ketelaere Attacker
60'
90
Nikola Krstovic Attacker
60'
23
Sead Kolasinac Defender
71'
99
Eljif Elmas Midfielder
82'
2
Filippo Missori Defender
20
Riccardo Ciervo Attacker
80
Stefano Turati Goalkeeper
8
Andrea Ghion Defender
44
Edoardo Iannoni Midfielder
77
Nicholas Pierini Attacker
30
Patrick Nuamah Midfielder
35
Luca Lipani Midfielder
21
Jay Idzes Defender
33
Rafa Obrador Defender
23
Alessandro Di Bitonto Defender
14
Gabriel Kulla Attacker
42
Kristian Thorstvedt Midfielder
64'
16
Fedde Leysen Defender
74'
25
Benja Domínguez Attacker
74'
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What happened
Atalanta defeated Sassuolo 2-1 in a Serie A matchday fixture, marking their first success since Maurizio Sarri took charge as head coach. The result provides a positive early signal for Sarri's tenure at the club, as Atalanta look to climb the Serie A table. Sassuolo, meanwhile, suffered a defeat on the road and will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
Chance analysis
A first win for any new coach carries symbolic weight, and for Atalanta this result against Sassuolo will give Sarri a foundation to build on. Atalanta have been in a transitional phase, and securing three points early in his tenure eases the pressure heading into a demanding run of fixtures. For Sassuolo, the loss underlines the challenges of their campaign and the need to tighten up defensively on the road.
Atalanta gain confidence and three points under their new manager, boosting early Sarri-era momentum while Sassuolo's away form remains a concern.