Atalanta 4 : 1 Cesena - Atalanta find a way to win

Atalanta ended a run of five Serie A draws with a thumping 4-1 home win over lowly Cesena.

Antonio Candreva fired Cesena ahead after 11 minutes but it was all the home side thereafter as a Guido Marilungo first-half double sent them on their way.

German Denis also scored from the penalty spot before the break before Federico Peluso sealed what was in the end a comfortable, and long overdue, success for the Bergamo club.

Cesena remain marooned in the bottom three although they showed little evidence of their poor form when they stormed out of the blocks to take the lead.

Eder and Adrian Mutu both spurned early opportunities before Candreva opened the scoring.

Veteran striker Mutu created it with a clever assist that the Italy international expertly converted with a low drive from just outside the area.

Home goalkeeper Andrea Consigli had to make another block soon after to deny Marco Parolo before Atalanta levelled with their first meaningful attack on 17 minutes.

Guillermo Rodriguez fouled Marilungo in the penalty area and Denis made no mistake converting the spot-kick into the bottom-left corner.

A minute later Atalanta were in front as Marilungo struck the first of his double.

Thomas Manfredini weighted a free-kick perfectly for Marilungo to run onto and he poked in his right-footed shot from close-range.

Marilungo now looked like he might score with every attack and the 22-year-old twice shot narrowly wide before giving his side a two-goal cushion just before half-time.

Peluso and Denis played a neat one-two to break open the defence before the latter slid a pass to leave Marilungo with the simplest of tap-ins.

Atlanta continued their dominance after the break with Ferreira Pinto seeing an effort saved by Francesco Antonioli while Thomas Manfredini wasted a couple of chances from distance.

The ailing away defence were repeatedly under siege and it was no surprise when Peluso added a fourth on 71 minutes, dribbling past a couple of would-be tacklers, before beating Antonioli from close range.

It could have got even worse for Cesena but for Antonioli, who made two excellent saves late on to keep out Denis.