Atalanta started the match against Venezia with a dominant move, but Stefano Stroppa's team managed to reduce the deficit before half-time, leaving the Nerazzurri with a 3‑1 lead. The match, played at Atalanta's home ground, was characterized by strong offensive pressure and a rapid recovery of points by the Venetian club.
Coach Maurizio Sarri adopted the 4‑2‑3‑1, with an attacking quartet well supported by Kessie and Ederson, while the flanks helped create space for attacking actions. The first half hour was decided by Krstovic, who scored two goals and an assist, and by Kessie, who opened the score with a precise shot. Kessie's goal came at 6 minutes, followed by another from Krstovic at 10 minutes, while the third, at 30 minutes, was scored by the Montenegrin midfielder after recovering the ball from Bellanova and a pass from Rowe.
Venezia showed resilience in the first half, managing to close the gap to 3‑1 in the 37th minute. The goal was scored by Hainaut, who headed a cross from Sagrado, past goalkeeper Carnesecchi. The action was launched by a right-wing action by Zappacosta, which created the game situation for Hainaut.
Despite the reduction of the lead, Atalanta managed to maintain control of the game, thanks to their defensive solidity and ability to create scoring opportunities. The final result at the end of the first half was 3‑1 in favor of Atalanta, with the Nerazzurri consolidating their position in the table thanks to this victory.
The next step for Atalanta will be to continue to exploit their technical and tactical superiority in the second half of the match, trying to transform their superiority into a larger final result. Venezia, on the other hand, will have to find a way to stay competitive and try to close the gap further, although their performance in the first half showed that they are capable of reacting under pressure.