Atalanta went 2-1 up at the U-Power Stadium, but Monza came out with their heads held high and hit a resounding post in the 96th minute with Maldini, who came close to scoring a brace.
The Brianzoli got off to a strong start, with Kyriakopoulos just missing the winning kick on Zerbin's cross from the right in the 2nd minute. After an all-White start, Atalanta showed up in the 8th minute with Kolasinac's downhill run down the left, who found the usually responsive Di Gregorio in his way. A minute later a cross from the right and a header by Toure', with the ball going wide. Monza defends well and attacks bravely, as in the 31st minute when Zerbin calls Birindelli to the shot, who is unlucky in his right. In the 36th minute a wild Zerbin gets back on the right and unloads a powerful conclusion, finding Carnesecchi's rebound; Colpani then doesn't frame the goal with his left-footed shot. Monza believes and insists: in the 40th minute Gagliardini inserts himself at speed and with his right footer kicks just wide. Atalanta came to the fore again in the 41st minute, when Di Gregorio blocked De Ketelaere's diagonal shot. The Belgian is more fortunate in the 44th minute, when on the development of a corner from the left, he scores a header to put Atalanta ahead.
At the start of the second half, the Nerazzurri tried to take advantage of the wave of enthusiasm after the goal, and in the 51st minute Di Gregorio repelled Lookman's deflected right-footer. Palladino played the first change in the 54th minute by inserting Valentin Carboni and Monza immediately had a chance with Gagliardini, who burst into the Nerazzurri area and went close to a 1-1 header. In the 65th minute Daniel Maldini also entered among the Biancorossi, who looked for an equalizer with heart and courage. In the 69th minute Gagliardini stubbornly recovers a ball on the back line, Birindelli puts it in the middle and Pessina with his left grazes the cross of the posts. Instead, from a possible 1-1 came the Bergamasque doubling in the 72nd minute with Touré, who bagged a right-footed shot from a few steps taking advantage of Lookman's assist. Palladino played a triple change in the 78th minute sending on Colombo, Caldirola and D'Ambrosio. The Biancorossi did not give up and looked for a goal to reopen the game. Maldini found it in the 89th minute with a great right-footed shot into the corner from outside the box. Fourth goal in the league for the biancorosso number 27. Palladino's team believed and attacked until the end, stopping at the resounding post hit by Maldini with a delightful inside right in the 96th minute. One step away from an incredible double the Monza talent.
Gasperini's side wins 2-1.
Monza, already arithmetically safe, will return to the field on Saturday, April 27, at 3 p.m. on the field of Lecce.
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