Coppa Italia: Atalanta 6-1 Cesena: Strong Dea were never going to lose | OneFootball

A strong Atalanta side rose to a comfortable 6-1 victory over Serie B outfit Cesena in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 on Wednesday evening, as goals from Davide Zappacosta, Charles De Ketelaere, Lazar Samardzic and Marco Brescianini were enough to cruise through to the quarters, despite a late consolation goal from Joseph Ceesay.

Gian Piero Gasperini named a surprisingly strong starting line-up for Wednesday’s cup match, including the Serie A top goalscorer alongside Lazar Samardzic and Charles De Ketelaere in attack. There was a debut for 19-year-old Italy talent Marco Palestra at right-wing-back, though.

The only major absentee was the recently-crowned African player of the year, Ademola Lookman, who watched on from the stands.

It was Cesena, in fact, who made the most changes, naming an entirely new XI after their 2-1 win over Cosenza in Serie B over the weekend.

Atalanta players pose for a team photograph prior to the Coppa Italia match between Atalanta and Cesena at Allianz Stadium on December 18, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It took just four minutes for the deadlock to be broken. Some Atalanta supporters were still making their way to their seats at the time.

With several defensive players till forwards following a corner just before, Atalanta struck through Davide Zappacosta after a neat exchange between De Ketelaere and Berat Djimsiti on the corner of the area. The Italian took a few touches before dispatching a right-footed effort into the far bottom corner.

De Ketelaere doubled the advantage three minutes later. He played a nice one-two with Retegui on the edge of the area, the Italian providing the lay-off with a tidy flick, before the Belgian found the bottom corner from 18 yards out.

Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta scores his team’s second goal under pressure from Emanuele Adamo of Cesena during the Coppa Italia match between Atalanta and Cesena at Allianz Stadium on December 18, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Lazar Samardzic, who started and finished the move, made it 3-0 after 26 minutes. Cesena were punished after a rare attack, as the 22-year-old broke on the counter, fed Mario Pasalic before receiving the ball back in the area and sending a left-footed effort looping into the top corner thanks to a hefty deflection.

Retegui, Samardzic and De Ketelaere played some neat one-touch football in the Cesena area for La Dea’s fourth, as the Belgian was sent through to the edge of the six-yard box before skewing an improvised effort in off the far post.

The fifth came courtesy of a well-executed free-kick routine. Marten De Roon played it short to Rafael Toloi on the edge of the area, who then played it to the completely unmarked Marco Brescianini, who couldn’t miss from 10 yards out.

Samardzic’s second of the night was Atalanta’s sixth, as he received the ball from Nicolo Zanioli in the area, took a touch to beat his defender and then slammed home from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Cesena got their consolation goal in the final minute of the 090 as Sydney van Hooijdonk slipped in Joseph Ceesay on the break. He had no issues in dispatching past Rui Patricio one-on-one.

Atalanta will go on to face Bologna away from home in the quarter-final, which is due to take place on February 5, 2025.

Full-time: Atalanta 6-1 Cesena

Zappacosta (A) 4’, De Ketelaere (A) 8’, 35’, Samardzic (A) 27’, 71’, Brescianini 54’ (A), Cessay (C) 90’.