Atalanta 3 - 2 Cesena - Atalanta bounce back to end drought

Atalanta came from behind to beat strugglers Cesena 3-2, thus ending a six-match winless run in Serie A.

Gregoire Defrel's brace had given Cesena a 2-0 lead after 43 minutes had been played before Yohan Benalouane reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

Goals from Guglielmo Stendardo and Maximiliano Moralez early in the second half handed Atalanta their first league win since October 19 and boosted them four points clear of the relegation zone.

Cesena, meanwhile, lost for the eighth time this season and remain in 19th position.

The visitors, who have not won since August 31, enjoyed a strong start in Bergamo and took a deserved lead in the 31st minute.

Luigi Giorgi set up Defrel in the area and his left-footed shot from the heart of the area beat Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.

Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono was forced to make his first substitution seconds later with Marco D'Alessandro replacing injured Davide Zappacosta.

With the home side struggling to put a good move together, Cesena doubled their lead when Defrel got behind MIlan Djuric's headed pass and struck a left-footed shot from 12 yards past the helpless Sportiello.

Atalanta reduced the arrears seconds before half-time.

Luca Cigarini spotted Benalouane in the box and the Tunisian defender's 15-yard volley beat Cesena keeper Nicola Leali.

The home side picked right up where they left off after the restart and drew level in the 50th minute.

Leali did well to clear German Denis' powerful header but could not hold onto the ball and Stendardo tapped in the rebound.

Two minutes later and a misunderstanding between Leali and one of his defenders saw Moralez nip in and steal the ball for an easy finish.

Atalanta twice hit the woodwork as they looked to kill the game off.

In the 79th minute, Cristiano Del Grosso's left-footed shot from the edge of the area struck the crossbar while one minute later, substitute Giulio Migliaccio's header rebounded off the bar.

Atalanta held on for their third win of the season.