Serie A | Monza 0-1 Atalanta: Krstovic ends Dea victory drought

Atalanta ended their almost month-long wait for a victory, but can thank goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi and scorer Nikola Krstovic, as Monza dominated the first half.

Both teams were in crisis mode, as the hosts had lost three on the bounce and were missing Jan Ziolkowski, Michael Folorunsho, Yvan Maye and Matteo Pessina, but Cyril Ngonge shook off a knock and Gustavo Varela had his eye on the Capocannoniere crown.

La Dea were decimated by injuries and stretched thin by Thursday’s 1-1 Conference League draw against Kairat Almaty. Maurizio Sarri was without a victory since October 15 in all competition, scraping three draws and as many losses. Gianluca Gaetano, Raoul Bellanova, Thomas Kristensen, Isak Hien, Franck Kessie, Giacomo Raspadori and Odilon Kossounou missed out, but Sead Kolasinac returned.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Ebeneezer Akinsanmiro just failed to connect with the Lorenzo Lucchesi roll across from six yards, but Marco Carnesecchi was under siege needing to make four saves in the space of 40 seconds, twice on Gustavo Varela, then Lucchesi and Jay Robinson too.

Varela also fired over from eight yards on a Robinson pull-back, as Atalanta struggled to get out of their half, a rare run forward seeing Charles De Ketelaere hit the side-netting under pressure from Leonardo Colombo.

Atalanta broke the deadlock very much against the run of play, as Lorenzo Bernasconi got down the left and rolled across, Noel Tornqvist only palmed it into the path of Nikola Krstovic to tap in from close range.

La Dea looked a different team in the second half, Mario Pasalic only denied by a second by the outstretched foot of Tornqvist, then Ederson stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

It really should’ve been 2-0, Krstovic this time only skimming the woodwork on the Eljif Elmas lay-off.

Andrea Colpani’s left-foot scorcher was palmed away by Carnesecchi, with Tornqvist doing the same moments later at the other end on De Ketelaere.

Colpani had penalty appeals rejected in added time when going down under pressure, as it remained tense to the end with Monza coach Ivan Juric sent off.

Krstovic 49 (A)

	08-11-2026 14:00
MatchDay 11
Stadio Brianteo (U-Power Stadium)
Monza	Atalanta
0 - 1

1st half

2nd half

Monza
Atalanta
29		Marco Carnesecchi	Goalkeeper
77		Davide Zappacosta	Defender
42		Giorgio Scalvini	Defender
47		Lorenzo Bernasconi	Defender
23		Sead Kolasinac	Defender
13		Éderson	Midfielder
99		Eljif Elmas	Midfielder
8		Mario Pasalic	Midfielder
59		Nicola Zalewski	Midfielder
17		Charles De Ketelaere	Attacker
90		Nikola Krstovic	Attacker
10		Patrick Cutrone	Attacker
32		Matteo Pessina	Midfielder
20		Demba Thiam	Goalkeeper
6		Valentin Antov	Defender
26		Patrick Ciurria	Attacker
		Cyril Ngonge	Attacker
		Jan Ziolkowski	Defender
11		Omari Forson	Attacker
43		Aljaz Strajnar	Goalkeeper
8		Foe Ondoa	Midfielder
44		Andrea Carboni	Defender
10		Lazar Samardžić	Midfielder
57		Marco Sportiello	Goalkeeper
9		Gianluca Scamacca	Attacker
7		Kamaldeen Sulemana	Midfielder
53		Matteo Plaia	Defender
41		Javison Idele	Midfielder
51		Mattia Sonzogni	Goalkeeper
11		Jonathan Rowe	Midfielder
40		Relja Obric	Defender
19		Franck Kessié	Midfielder