Atalanta Edge Monza to Secure Crucial 1-0 Away Victory as Krstović Delivers

Atalanta survive Monza pressure to claim three points

Atalanta returned to winning ways in Serie A after securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Monza at the Stadio Brianteo on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

A second-half strike from Nikola Krstović proved decisive as Maurizio Sarri’s men collected all three points from a difficult away fixture. However, the result did not come without considerable resistance from the hosts, who created several opportunities but failed to find the back of the net.

Monza entered the encounter looking to end a disappointing run of results after suffering three consecutive league defeats. Ivan Jurić’s side needed a positive performance in front of their supporters, while Atalanta were equally desperate for a response following a difficult period that had seen them go several matches without a victory.

Both teams approached the contest with plenty at stake, and the opening exchanges quickly demonstrated Monza’s determination to take control.

Monza dominate the opening half

The hosts started with greater attacking ambition, pressing forward and looking to trouble Atalanta’s defensive organisation. Their approach created early problems for the visitors, who struggled to establish control during the opening stages.

Monza came close to taking the lead in the seventh minute when Lucchesi delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area. However, nobody in a red-and-white shirt managed to make the necessary contact to turn the opportunity into a goal.

Jay Robinson was particularly influential in the early stages, using his pace and movement to create problems down the left flank. His willingness to take on defenders provided Monza with an important attacking outlet.

The home side continued to threaten, and their best spell arrived in the 24th minute when Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi produced an outstanding sequence of saves.

Varela tested the goalkeeper with a powerful left-footed effort before Robinson followed with a low attempt. Varela then had another opportunity, but Carnesecchi remained alert and denied him again.

The Atalanta goalkeeper completed the impressive sequence by stopping a long-range effort from Kouadio, preventing Monza from taking a deserved advantage.

It was a remarkable passage of play that demonstrated how important Carnesecchi would become to Atalanta’s chances of leaving the stadium with a positive result.

Atalanta struggled to produce a similar attacking threat during much of the first half. Their first notable attempt came through Nicola Zalewski, whose free-kick failed to trouble the Monza goalkeeper.

Charles De Ketelaere also attempted to make an impact before the interval, but his effort went wide.

Monza continued to push forward, with Lucchesi and Varela both threatening from attacking positions. Despite their territorial advantage and the number of opportunities created, the hosts could not find a breakthrough.

The first half eventually ended goalless, although Monza had done enough to suggest they could have gone into the dressing room with a lead.

Krstović breaks the deadlock after the interval

Atalanta returned for the second half with a greater sense of urgency, but Monza initially continued where they had left off.

Just two minutes after the restart, Colombo came close to opening the scoring after connecting with a delivery from Kouadio. However, his effort went narrowly over the crossbar.

The missed opportunity proved costly as Atalanta immediately found the breakthrough.

In the 49th minute, Nikola Krstović reacted quickest inside the penalty area to score the only goal of the encounter.

The move developed through Lorenzo Bernasconi, whose delivery from the left caused problems for Monza goalkeeper Törnqvist. The goalkeeper could not deal with the ball cleanly, allowing Krstović to capitalise on the rebound and put Atalanta ahead.

It was an important moment for the Montenegrin striker, who demonstrated the awareness and composure required to punish an opponent’s mistake.

The goal also changed the nature of the contest. Monza, who had controlled much of the opening period, were now forced to chase the game, while Atalanta had the opportunity to become more organised and look for openings on the counterattack.

The hosts responded through Robinson, who cut inside before directing an effort towards goal, but Carnesecchi was again equal to the challenge.

At the opposite end, Atalanta began to find more opportunities. Mario Pašalić threatened from close range in the 59th minute, but Törnqvist produced an important save to prevent the visitors from doubling their advantage.

Both managers subsequently turned to their substitutes in an attempt to influence the outcome.

Jurić introduced Andrea Carboni and Exequiel Zeballos, hoping to inject fresh energy into Monza’s attacking play. Atalanta also made changes, bringing on Jonathan Rowe to strengthen their options going forward.

The visitors continued to threaten through individual efforts, including a long-range attempt from Éderson that required another intervention from the Monza goalkeeper.

Krstović also had an opportunity to extend Atalanta’s advantage after receiving a pass from Eljif Elmas, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

Monza refused to surrender and continued searching for an equaliser. Their attacking pressure increased as the match approached its closing stages, with Jurić introducing Andrea Colpani to provide additional creativity.

Colpani came close to making an immediate difference when he unleashed a powerful left-footed effort, but Carnesecchi reacted well to push the ball away.

The goalkeeper’s contribution was becoming increasingly important as Atalanta struggled to put the contest beyond doubt.

Heated closing stages as Jurić receives red card

The final minutes produced considerable tension as Monza committed more players forward in search of a late equaliser.

The hosts believed they should have received a penalty after Colpani went down inside the opposition penalty area following contact with Jonathan Rowe. However, referee Claudio Giuseppe Allegretta allowed play to continue, and the decision remained unchanged.

The incident triggered protests from the Monza players and coaching staff, adding further tension to an already difficult afternoon for the home side.

The situation became even more frustrating for Jurić, who was sent off during stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card.

His dismissal brought an unfortunate conclusion to an afternoon in which his team had created enough opportunities to make the contest much closer.

Atalanta, meanwhile, maintained their concentration during the remaining minutes and successfully protected their advantage until the final whistle.

The result confirmed a valuable away victory for Sarri’s team, while Monza were left disappointed after another league defeat.

Match statistics highlight Monza’s attacking efforts

Although Atalanta secured the victory, the statistics showed that Monza had been competitive throughout the encounter.

The home side finished with 49 per cent possession compared with Atalanta’s 51 per cent. Monza also registered 22 total attempts, nine more than their opponents, who managed 13.

Both teams recorded seven shots on target, highlighting the importance of the goalkeepers’ performances.

Monza also registered eight blocked shots compared with Atalanta’s two, demonstrating the defensive work required from the visitors to preserve their lead.

The hosts recorded 15 attempts inside the penalty area, while Atalanta managed nine. However, their inability to convert their opportunities ultimately proved decisive.

For Atalanta, the most important statistic remained the one on the scoreboard. Krstović’s 49th-minute strike was enough to secure three points from a challenging away fixture.

The victory provided Sarri’s side with an important response after their recent difficulties, while Monza were left to reflect on another afternoon when their attacking efforts failed to produce the desired outcome.

According to the match records, Atalanta had ended their six-match wait for a victory across competitions, giving the team an opportunity to rebuild confidence ahead of their next league assignment.

Man of the Match: Marco Carnesecchi

Marco Carnesecchi was recognised as the standout performer of the encounter after delivering an outstanding display between the posts.

While Krstović deserved credit for scoring the winning goal, Carnesecchi’s contribution was equally important in determining the final outcome.

His remarkable sequence of four saves in the 24th minute prevented Monza from taking control of the scoreboard during their strongest spell of the first half.

He continued to demonstrate his quality after the interval, denying Robinson and helping Atalanta withstand the pressure that followed Krstović’s goal.

His composure, positioning and ability to react quickly under pressure made a significant difference, particularly when Monza increased their attacking intensity towards the end of the match.

Match-rating records also placed Carnesecchi at the top of the individual performances with an 8.9 rating, ahead of Krstović, who received an 8.0 rating from the same provider.

Ultimately, Carnesecchi’s performance ensured that Krstović’s decisive contribution was not wasted.

For Atalanta, this was a victory built on two outstanding individual contributions: one player provided the goal, while the other made sure it was enough to secure all three points.