Pro Sports

Pasalic scores twice as Atalanta routs Spezia 5-2

Posted November 20, 2021 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Atalanta's Mario Pasalic scores his side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Spezia, in Bergamo, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.(Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

BERGAMO, Italy (AP) - Midfielder Mario Pasalic scored twice and provided an assist as Atalanta rallied to rout Spezia 5-2 on Saturday, improving its poor home record in Serie A this season.

Atalanta - which had failed to win its last three Italian league matches - moved level with third-place Inter in the Italian league, with 25 points from 13 games. Inter has one match in hand and a better goal difference.

Struggling Juventus ended Lazio's 19-match unbeaten home record with a 2-0 win at Stadio Olimpico as Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri faced his former club. Leonardo Bonucci scored both goals from the penalty spot.

M'Bala Nzola put Spezia ahead in the 11th minute with the visitors' first shot of the match, slotting home from the rebound after Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso parried an effort from Daniele Verde off the crossbar.

Atalanta replied with three first-half goals on its way to a second win in seven home matches this season.

The first one came in the 18th when Pasalic leveled from close range following a breakthrough from Davide Zappacosta down the right.

Duvan Zapata missed a penalty kick that had to be retaken due to penalty-box encroachment, and the striker did not miss his second chance with a perfectly taken shot to the top left corner in the 38th. Pasalic then made it 3-1 with a clean finish to conclude a fast counterattack led by Zapata.

Substitute Luis Muriel added his name to the scoresheet with seven minutes left with a left-footed volley from Pasalic's cross and Ukraine international Ruslan Malinovskyi made the win even more emphatic in the 89th. Nzola scored a consolation goal in added time.

Lazio was without the injured Ciro Immobile and did not impress, while Juventus lost Danilo during the match. The Brazilian right back was stretchered off the pitch with an apparent thigh injury, adding more concerns to an already depleted side.

Juventus moved up to sixth place, level on points with fifth-place Lazio.

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Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci runs after scoring his side's second goal on a penalty kick during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Mario Pasalic celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Spezia, in Bergamo, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.(Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Spezia's M'Bala Nzola celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Spezia, in Bergamo, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.(Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci, third from left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal on a penalty kick during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Duvan Zapata scores his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Spezia, in Bergamo, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.(Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Duvan Zapata, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Spezia, in Bergamo, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.(Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal on a penalty kick during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) The Associated Press

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