Atalanta 1 : 0 Palermo - Gasperini starts with defeat

Posted Sunday, September 23, 2012 by PA

Cristian Raimondi denied Gian Piero Gasperini any joy on his debut as Palermo manager with his late header earning Atalanta a 1-0 victory in Serie A.

The former Inter Milan tactician replaced Giuseppe Sannino at the Renzo Barbera following the Sicilians' winless start to the season, but the barren patch will extend to Wednesday night's trip to Pescara at the earliest.

For Stefano Colantuono's Atalanta, though, it was a second consecutive league win and their first home triumph of the new campaign.

Edgar Barreto scooped a shot high over the crossbar as the Rosanero went sniffing for an early goal but Davide Brivio came closer at the other end with a wildly swerving free-kick.

Atalanta pressed on and Luca Cigarini was unlucky not to notch following good work from Maximiliano Moralez.

With 31 minutes played, Barreto re-emerged as a dangerman for the Sicilians and Andrea Consigli did well to smother his goalbound effort.

Still Palermo came forward and Massimo Donati headed Josip Ilicic's cross wide before Arevalo Rios blasted wastefully over the bar.

Donati should have done better on the stroke of half-time when presented with a clear-cut chance, instead clipping his strike straight to Consigli.

German Denis was off target following the interval with the second half less frenetic than the first.

Barreto drew further jeers from the home faithful as he aimlessly mis-hit another good opportunity from outside the box as the hour mark ticked by.

Young loanee Giuseppe De Luca woke visiting keeper Samir Ujkani from his slumber but there was never any danger from Riccardo Cazzola's poor drive 10 minutes from time.

Palermo sat back, perhaps content with a single point for their efforts, but Raimondi punished their early profligacy with a bullet header with just two minutes remaining.