CAGLIARI starting XI (3-5-2): Sherri, Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Zortea (subbed for Pavoletti), Adopo, Deiola (subbed for Gaetano), Makoumbou (subbed for Marin), Augello (subbed for Obert), Luvumbo (subbed for Felici), Piccoli

Bench: Ciocci, Scuffet, Wieteska, Palomino, Prati, Azzi, Jankto, Viola, Mutandwa, Lapadula

ATALANTA starting XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi, Kossounou, Hien (subbed for Djimsiti), Kolasinac, Bellanova, Pasalic (subbed for Samardzic), Ederson, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere (subbed for Zaniolo), Brescianini (subbed for De Roon), Retegui (subbed for Lookman)

Bench: Rossi, Rui Patricio, Toloi, Godfrey, Cuadrado, Sulemana, Zappacosta, Palestra

Goals: Zaniolo 66’

Gasperini’s substitutions had an immediate impact as Atalanta won at lowly Cagliari 1-0 on Saturday for a club record 10th straight league victory. It ensured Atalanta will end the weekend on top of the table.

Atalanta remained two points above second-placed Napoli, who fought back to beat Udinese 3-1.

Atalanta struggled to break down Cagliari in the first half and had Marco Carnesecchi to thank for them not being behind at the interval. The visiting goalkeeper pulled off impressive stops, including a fantastic triple save before the break.

Gasperini was clearly not happy with his team and made three changes at halftime and Atalanta immediately improved.

The coach made another two substitutions in the 64th minute, sending on the fresh legs of Nicolò Zaniolo and Lazar Samardzic for Mario Pasalic and Charles De Ketelaere.

The duo helped to break the deadlock two minutes later. Samardzic found Raoul Bellanova on the right side of the area and he knocked it back for Zaniolo to slot into the near bottom corner from close range.

Gasperini, who has been in charge of Atalanta for eight years, was the coach of the year in 2019 and 2020. Last week, he picked up the monthly award for November.

Atalanta won the Europa League last season but have never won Serie A. They achieved their highest finish of third place three times under Gasperini.

AAP

Want access to every Serie A match live and on demand? Subscribe to the Il Globo TV + beIN SPORTS package here.