Atalanta beat Lazio 2-1 at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.

Luca Cigarini struck for La Dea in the first half and Colombian striker Brayan Perea equalised early in the second half, before Atalanta’s Argentine forward German Denis won the match for the home side with six minutes remaining.

It was a dour start to the match with many passes being misplaced. Lazio left-back Senad Lulic had a couple of chances from distance which were very far off target. Hernanes also tried his luck from distance and he too failed to hit the target.

On 25 minutes, Lucas Biglia tested Andrea Consigli from just outside the box but the Atalanta keeper made a routine save. Sergio Floccari made a little run from the left-wing and his long-range shot just missed a goal.

Federico Marchetti was finally tested after 37 minutes when Giacomo Bonaventura struck a volley after a cross from the left-wing. Maximiliano Moralez tried to get to the rebound but he couldn’t connect with the ball.

Two minutes later, Moralez received a through-ball and was in a one-on-one situation with Marchetti. The Argentine midfielder chipped the Lazio keeper but Luis Cavanda cleared off the line.

Cigarini gave the Orobici the lead after 41 minutes. Bonaventura crossed from the left-wing and a Lazio defender headed the ball into the path of Cigarini. He let the ball bounce and then struck a sweet right-foot volley from 25 metres out to make it 1-0.

Early in the second half, Atalanta went on the counterattack and Denis dribbled down the left-wing. He centred for Cristian Raimondi, whose left-foot shot from distance just went over the bar.

Lazio equalised after 52 minutes when Colombian youngster Perea scored his first Serie A goal. Lulic made a right-foot cross from the left-wing and Perea controlled the ball. Despite being sandwiched between two Atalanta defenders, he still managed to poke the ball past Consigli.

Hernanes could have given Lazio the lead but his curling free-kick was dealt easily by Consigli, who had to parry the ball at the far post. After 67 minutes, the Brazilian midfielder also struck a thunderbolt from 35 metres which just missed the goal.

However it was Denis who gave the Nerazzurri the lead after 84 minutes. Cigarini won the ball in his own half, and after beating a defender on the left-wing, he played a through-ball for the Argentine centre-forward. Despite the efforts of two Lazio defenders trying to run back, Denis dribbled around Marchetti and put the ball in the net.

Atalanta went for a third goal and Lazio increased the tempo in the dying minutes but the Bergamaschi held on for the win, much to the delight of Orobici coach Stefano Colantuono.