Krstovic Scores and Carnesecchi Makes Seven Saves as Atalanta Beat Monza 1-0

Atalanta beat Monza 1-0 at the Stadio Brianteo on Sunday, November 8, in Serie A Matchday 11. Nikola Krstovic scored the only goal in the 49th minute, tapping in from close range, and goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi made seven saves to protect the lead. The result ended Atalanta's almost month-long wait for a victory.

The goal

The match stayed goalless through the first half, and the breakthrough came four minutes after the restart. Lorenzo Bernasconi rolled the ball across the Monza goal, and goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist could only palm it into the path of Krstovic. The striker finished from close range to put Atalanta 1-0 ahead.

It was a simple goal, and it decided the match. Bernasconi's low ball across the area left Tornqvist with no clean way to clear it, and Krstovic was in the right place to turn in the loose ball before the Monza defence could react.

Carnesecchi protects the lead

Atalanta's win also rested on their goalkeeper. Marco Carnesecchi made seven saves over the match, and every one of them mattered in a game settled by a single goal. Monza pressed for an equaliser at their home ground, the Stadio Brianteo, also known as the U-Power Stadium, but Carnesecchi kept his clean sheet intact until the final whistle.

A one-goal lead is a narrow margin in Serie A, and Atalanta had to defend theirs for more than 40 minutes after Krstovic scored. They did it, with Carnesecchi the busiest and most important player on the field in the second half.

Late drama at the Brianteo

The closing minutes brought the match's sharpest incident off the ball. Monza coach Ivan Juric was sent off in added time. In the same added time, Monza forward Colpani had penalty appeals rejected, and the referee waved play on. Atalanta saw out the remaining moments and the full time whistle confirmed the 1-0 result.

The rejected appeal and the red card for their coach summed up a frustrating afternoon for Monza. They had pushed for a way back into the game, they had forced Carnesecchi into repeated work, and they still finished empty-handed at home.

What the result means

For Atalanta, the value of the afternoon is simple. A run of almost a month without a victory is over, ended by an away win built on one close-range finish and seven saves from their goalkeeper. For Monza, the defeat at home closes Matchday 11 with nothing to show for a late push that ended with appeals turned down and their coach sent to the stands.