Udinese 2 - 1 Atalanta: Cyril Thereau and Stipe Perica help Udinese to victory against Atalanta

Udinese held off Atalanta for a 2-1 victory in Wednesday's early Serie A kick off at Stadio Friuli.

It had been a bright start for the home side, who were looking to build on the 1-0 win at Torino before the Christmas break, with Stipe Perica and Bruno Fernandes going close and Perica feeling he should have had a penalty when he was bundled over by Marten de Roon.

Udinese took the lead in the 23rd minute when Brazilian defender Felipe saw his back-post header saved and Cyril Thereau was alert to lash in the rebound for his seventh goal of the season.

The lead was doubled in first-half stoppage time when Fernandes clipped over a cross from the left which curled through the Atalanta penalty area to Perica who headed home powerfully.

It was close to being 3-0 at the start of the second period when Marco Sportiello produced a point-blank save to beat away Danilo's near-post header, and soon after Thereau had the ball in the net but the offside flag had been raised for what looked a marginal call.

Atalanta pulled a goal back with 16 minutes left when Marco D'Alessandro scored from close range following a deflected left-wing cross but were unable to force an equaliser.