Atalanta overtakes Bologna in Serie A
Atalanta leapfrogged Bologna in the Serie A standings with a 2-0 triumph in Bergamo.
Manolo Gabbiadini put the hosts on their way early in the second half and, although Bologna pressed for an equaliser, they were caught on the counter-attack as Simone Tiribocchi secured the win for Atalanta in stoppage time.
The victory, Atalanta's 10th of the campaign, saw the Bergamaschi climb to ninth in the standings, 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
Bologna, meanwhile, have seen their three-month unbeaten run on the road come to an end today and have dropped two places and one point behind Atalanta with nine games remaining.
The visitors came close to taking an early lead when Panagiotis Kone got his head on Alessandro Diamanti's cross and his effort was kept out by Atalanta goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.
Consigli did even better in the 18th minute as he had to dive to his right to clear Marco Di Vaio's powerful 10-yard strike.
Atalanta first tested Bologna goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet on the half-hour mark.
Maximiliano Moralez played in Luca Cigarini and his diagonal effort was saved by Gillet.
That hosts then wasted a chance to go in front before the break when Gabbiadini fired wide from the heart of the area.
Atalanta continued to press forward after the restart and went in front in the 50th minute.
Gabbiadini got past his marker and headed Cristian Raimondi's cross past Gillet to open his season tally.
Bologna reacted and twice had the chance to equalise before the hour mark.
Archimede Morleo's 20-yard volley went over the bar while shortly after, Diamanti's long-range attempt was wide.
With 10 minutes remaining, Gillet kept his team in the game when he kept out Ezequiel Schelotto's goal-bound effort from eight yards.
Atalanta then doubled their lead when Moralez fed Tiribocchi in the area and he struck the ball past Gillet.
Bologna almost scored a consolation goal seconds later but Diamanti's powerful free-kick struck the crossbar with Consigli already beaten.