Atalanta and Genoa played to a 0-0 draw on the 35th matchday of Serie A, a result that did little for the home side and plenty for a Genoa team that had already secured safety before kickoff. Atalanta had the better of the chances, but it was Genoa who left with the point and the louder celebration under the away section.
Vitinha had the first opening after Colombo laid the ball off to him, while De Ketelaere saw a left-footed effort blocked in two stages by Bijlow in the first half. At the 42nd minute, Scalvini had to make a sliding clearance to stop Ekhator, and Genoa stayed level again when Bijlow kept out Krstovic from close range after a move involving Scamacca and De Ketelaere. In the second half, Atalanta pushed again and Raspadori struck the crossbar.
The draw fit the sense that Atalanta have been stuck in a crisis of ideas and results. They have taken only 2 points from their last 4 league matches, and the drop in momentum has left Palladino seven points behind Como with 3 matches remaining. The team were almost unable to climb from seventh place after another frustrating night that produced more pressure than reward.
Genoa, by contrast, had little left to prove in the table and played like a side free of strain. Bijlow's saves made the difference when Atalanta found gaps, and the visitors were able to celebrate under their away section after protecting the point. For Atalanta, the numbers now point to the same problem: they are creating enough to threaten, but not enough to change the shape of their season.
