Sassuolo defeated Atalanta 2-0 in Serie A action at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore on Sunday.

Second half goals from Simone Zaza and Domenico Berardi were enough to earn the home side the three points despite playing the final 15 minutes with ten men thanks to Luca Antei’s sending off.

The home side had the first chance after eight minutes when Domenico Berardi laid off a wonderful ball for Francesco Magnanelli before the midfielder unleashed a stinging drive that grazed the crossbar before going over the goal.

The Neroverdi continued to have the chances as Antonio Floro Flores sent a week effort on goal that was dealt with by Andrea Consigli in the 15th minute.

Atalanta responded a minute later but Luca Cigarini’s effort from 25 metres out was stopped by Gianluca Pegolo.

Sassuolo made timid claims for a penalty in the 25th minute when Berardi clashed with Michele Canini but Paolo Valeri allowed play to continue.

Sassuolo defender Antei got his head onto the ball inside the Atalanta penalty area but an attentive Consigli tipped the ball over the bar as both sides headed into half time deadlocked at 0-0.

The Nerazzurri kicked things off in the 48th minute but Maxi Moralez sent a weak effort on goal that was easily dealt with by Pegolo.

The away side had another timid chance in the 53rd minute as Davide Brivio’s cross found the head of Carlos Carmona but the Chilean’s header went over the bar.

Sassuolo responded in the 61st minute when Berardi found space and cut in from the right but his curling effort went just wide of the post.

The home side’s pressure would pay off two minutes later as they took the lead thanks to Zaza. Berardi’s free kick was parried by Consigli, but the ball was played back in to the Italian striker as he tapped home from close range to make it 1-0 for Sassuolo.

The Neroverdi made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Luca Marrone found Berardi with a pass in the box before the youngster deposited his seventh goal of the season past Consigli.

The home side reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute when Antei picked up his second booking off the match for a foul on Moralez, setting up a nervy end to the match for the Neroverdi.

Atalanta nearly cut the deficit in half in the 81st minute but Pegolo stopped German Denis from point blank range to keep the home side ahead by two goals.

Despite a late flurry the Nerazzurri failed to put one past Pegolo, allowing Sassuolo to take home a deserved three points.

Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44