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Christian Vieri scored his first goal for the Viola, but it was not enough to defeat 10-man Atalanta thanks to a stunning Riccardo Zampagna strike.
Both sides were looking to defend their unbeaten starts to the season and it was a reunion for former Atalanta youth products Giampaolo Pazzini and Riccardo Montolivo, although the latter was struggling with injury. The visitors welcomed back Cristiano Doni and Leonardo Talamonti.
Fabio Liverani's long ball forward for Adrian Mutu was carried on for Giampaolo Pazzini and in a bid to anticipate him, defender Rivalta accidentally turned it into his own net. It was a chaotic move that left both Pazzini and goalkeeper Ferdinando Coppola injured.
Moris Carrozzieri was sent off for a foolish second bookable offence on Gobbi straight after the restart.
However, 10-man Atalanta managed to equalise moments later thanks to a classic Cristiano Doni free kick curled into the near top corner.
Christian Vieri replaced Mutu and had a good chance deflected over the bar. There was a chaotic move on 69 minutes, as three crosses into the box failed to get the shot on target, including a Vieri overhead kick.
Vieri rolled across for Kuzmanovic, but he hesitated enough to allow Capelli to clear the danger.
The pressure paid off on 74 minutes, as Liverani's free kick was floated towards Vieri for a powerful header that ricocheted in off the underside of the crossbar.
Kuzmanovic should have put the result beyond doubt, but he sprung the offside trap on Liverani's chipped pass and thumped it wide with only Coppola to beat.
It proved to be a costly error, as Atalanta equalised with an absolute stunner from Riccardo Zampagna. The veteran was surrounded by defenders with his back to goal, but sensed Sebastien Frey was off his line and hooked a spectacular effort over his shoulder into the top corner!
The Viola were furious and poured forward with Pazzini's header skimming the upright. It was a siege in stoppages, but Kuzmanovic, Vieri and Pazzini could not get the winning goal.
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