Verona Stun Atalanta with Commanding 3-1 Victory at Bentegodi

Antoine Bernede's thunderous strike from outside the box in the 71st minute sealed a stunning 3-1 victory for bottom-placed Hellas Verona against 12th-place Atalanta at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. The French midfielder's right-footed drive capped a remarkable performance that saw the struggling hosts produce their most complete display of the season, moving to six points despite remaining in 20th position.

Verona's attacking masterclass began in the 28th minute when Rafik Belghali opened the scoring with a sublime left-footed finish from the center of the box, converting Daniel Mosquera's precise assist into the top right corner. The Bentegodi erupted eight minutes later as Giovane doubled the advantage with a spectacular left-footed effort from outside the area that sailed into the high center of Marco Carnesecchi's goal. Bernede's 71st-minute strike, assisted by Giovane following a devastating fast break, effectively ended Atalanta's hopes before Gianluca Scamacca's 81st-minute penalty provided mere consolation after Armel Bella-Kotchap's handball.

The tactical battle saw Atalanta dominate possession at 63.9% but struggle to break down Verona's resolute defensive structure marshaled by Victor Nelsson and Bella-Kotchap. Lorenzo Montipò proved crucial in the Verona goal, making vital saves including a point-blank stop from Charles De Ketelaere in the 49th minute. Marten de Roon's booking for a bad foul on Cheikh Niasse highlighted Atalanta's growing frustration as their midfield struggled to create clear-cut opportunities despite territorial dominance.

Despite Atalanta's statistical superiority in possession and shots, Verona's clinical edge proved decisive with three goals from just seven attempts on target compared to the visitors' five shots on goal from 12 total efforts. The hosts' counter-attacking prowess, spearheaded by the pace of Giovane and the creativity of Mosquera, repeatedly exposed Atalanta's high defensive line throughout the contest.

The turning point arrived in the 77th minute when VAR awarded Atalanta a lifeline through Bella-Kotchap's handball, but Scamacca's successful conversion came too late to spark a meaningful comeback. The final ten minutes saw Verona expertly manage the game, with substitutions preserving their energy while Atalanta's desperate attacks lacked the precision to trouble Montipò further.

Verona will look to build on this morale-boosting triumph when they host Fiorentina on December 14, desperately needing points to climb away from the relegation zone. Atalanta face a quick turnaround with their crucial Champions League clash against Chelsea on December 9, where Gian Piero Gasperini's side must rediscover their attacking fluency after this disappointing setback.