Ten-man Atalanta were able to hold Como FC to a goalless draw in a Serie A clash they practically played after an Honest Ahanor reaction foul.
Le Dea will ride their luck as they left Como with a vital point after Marco Carnesecchi saved Nico Paz’s last-gasp penalty in a battle for ambition and Europe.
Como, sixth on the Serie A table, hosted seventh Atlanta, having won five of the last seven Serie A games. Cesc Fabregas was fresh off a midweek 3-1 Coppa Italia victory over Fiorentina.
La Dea went into the clash following a 1-0 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise, but still swept into the Champions League play-offs.
They’ve been in strong form in the Serie A, picking up 13 points from five rounds, and Ademola Lookman was left out pending a transfer to Atletico Madrid.
Atalata had a dramatic start as they were a man down within eight minutes. Maxi Perrone said something to Honest Ahanor, who reacted angrily by shoving him in the face during an off-the-ball incident.
The referee who did not see it showed a straight red card to Ahanor and the yellow to Perrone after consultation with his assistants.
Como then had chances to make their numerical advantage count, but Tasos Douvikas failed to make the most of an inspired Martin Baturina pass that sent him clear, while Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon’s headers went off target.
Barutina released Douvikas in the middle but scuffed the weak finish into the arms of Marco Carnesecchi. Nico Paz also did the same on a Douvikas lay-off.
Carnesecchi was again called into action as he parried a powerful Nico Paz snapshot, and Giorgio Scalvini threw himself in the way to prevent Perrone from tapping in the rebound.
Mergim Vojvoda tested the Atalanta Carnesecchi, who later rushed out to stop Jacobo Ramon turning in the deflected Marc-Oliver Kempf attempt at the near post.
Atalanta nearly took the lead straight after the restart as Charles De Ketelaere sent Kamaldeen Sulemana on the counter, who forced a difficult one-handed Jean Butez save after sending Jacobo Ramon to the ground.
Ramon wasted more chances; he nodded a header over and an angled drive skimming the far post.
Wasteful Douvikas again failed to connect with a Jayden Addai roll across from five yards as Atlanta counterattacks become more frequent. Nikola Krstovic nodded a Lorenzo Bernasconi cross wide.
After Ederson’s shot went wide, Carnesecchi made a point-blank save on Jacobo Ramon, who controlled a ball with his chest, let it bounce and flicked it around Bernasconi to force the save from the goalie.
Como for a lifeline deep into stoppages, VAR spotted that Scalvini had struck the ball with his hand when going to head it away, and Como were awarded a penalty.
Nico Paz stepped up and missed his third penalty in a row when Carnesecchi parried his fairly weak and central attempt at the 98th minute.
