Torino 0 : 0 Atalanta - Torino draw a blank

Posted Monday, November 03, 2014 by PA

Torino fans will have to wait longer for their team to win two Serie A games in a row as they were held to a goalless draw by Atalanta on Sunday.

The Granata could have sealed all three points deep in stoppage time but substitute midfielder Alexander Farnerud saw Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello get a slight touch on his powerful drive and deflect it over the crossbar.

The outcome has left Toro in 12th place with 12 points while Atalanta remain in 16th place with just one win from their last eight games.

The home side went into the encounter looking to pick up where they left off in Wednesday's 1-0 triumph over Parma.

However, despite dominating possession, they failed to take a shot on goal in the opening half.

In the 29th minute, Torino's Emiliano Moretti should have done better but headed Bruno Peres' cross wide.

Atalanta, without suspended midfielder Luca Cigarini, should have gone in front four minutes before the interval.

Guglielmo Stendardo headed a cross from German Denis on target only to see his effort saved by Torino goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet.

The hosts continued to push forward after the restart and, in the 56th minute, Fabio Quagliarella's goal-bound attempt was blocked by an Atalanta defender.

Torino coach Giampiero Ventura brought on veteran striker Amauri and he almost scored in the 70th minute.

The Brazilian-born striker hit a right-footed shot from the middle of the area that went just wide of the far post.

Sportiello made his first save of the afternoon in the 70th minute.

Quagliarella nodded the ball into the path of Pontus Jansson but the close-range attempt was kept out by the visiting goalkeeper.

Farnerud had the last chance of the game but was denied by the woodwork.