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Yuki Morimoto had a sensational Serie A debut, scoring Catania's equaliser just five minutes into his first appearance.
Both these teams were promoted in the summer, yet this was a showdown for Champions League qualification between eighth-placed Atalanta and Catania in fourth. The Sicilians recaptured that spot following their midweek win over Empoli, rescheduled from Week 16 due to inclement weather. Gionatha Spinesi continued to sit out his three-match ban, so Fausto Rossini faced his former club.
Catania's record at the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia in Serie A was appalling, with five defeats and two draws to their name.
Atalanta really should've taken the lead after five minutes when the ball fell to Luca Ariatti, who somehow managed to blaze wide from six yards. Armando Pantanelli flicked two consecutive headers from Moris Carrozieri and Simone Loria out from under the crossbar.
The home side broke through on the half-hour mark. Massimo Donati's wayward shot went past Pantanelli and turned into an accidental assist for Riccardo Zampagna to tap into an empty net.
Atalanta really should've made it 2-0 soon after, but Ferreira Pinto hesitated and the counter-attack went begging.
Seconds after the restart Donati's strike clipped the top of the crossbar with Pantanelli beaten.
Catania tried to fight back as Giuseppe Mascara's diving header flashed past the upright, but Doni wanted a penalty for Giorgio Corona's handling offence on a free kick.
Zampagna and Ariatti wasted good opportunities for the home side, while substitute Nicola Ventola's angled drive was fingertipped round the post.
However, the Sicilians equalised with new starlet Morimoto just five minutes into his Serie A debut! The Japanese youth team player fought his way past two tackles to beat Calderoni from eight yards.
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