By beating Genoa 4-3 on matchday 37 of the Serie A TIM 2020-2021 at the Ferraris stadium in Genoa, the Nerazzurri qualify for the next UEFA Champions League for the third consecutive season. A great milestone achieved with one round to spare.

However, the first chances of the game came off Genoa. Melegoni was through on goal in the 2nd minute, but Gollini did well to beat the former Atalanta player’s shot away. On the resulting corner, Masiello hit the outside of the post. After nine minutes, the game was unlocked: Malinovskyi’s slide-rule pass found Zapata, who controlled and then beat Marchetti. The Nerazzurri almost doubled their lead through Gosens on 21, but Marchetti beat the shot away for a corner. The Nerazzurri actually doubled their lead in the 27th minute: Zapata did well to keep a bit of the ball on the by-line and to find Malinovksyi, who prodded into an empty goal. Before half-time, a third goal arrived: Hateboer knocked it back for Gosens, who nodded in.

In the second half, Genoa immediately pulled one back with substitute Shomurodov, who stole the ball and drilled in off the inside of the far post. But on 51 Pašalić, who also had just come on at half-time, restored the 3-goal lead: the Croatian was set up by Miranchuk, burst through the middle and scored with an angled drive. In the 67th minute, Genoa were awarded a penalty for a Gosens handball after the VAR check: Pandev converted to make it 2-4. Genoa pulled another back on 84 through Shomurodov, who was sent through by Pandev. The Nerazzurri kept their lead anyway and by reaching 78 points on the table, they mathematically secured a UEFA Champions League spot for next season with one round to spare.

GENOA 3-4 ATALANTA

Scorers: D. Zapata 9 (A), Malinovskyi 27 (A), Gosens 44 (A), Shomurodov 49 (G), Pašalić 51 (A), Pandev pen 67 (G), Shomurodov 84 (G)

Genoa: Marchetti, Onguene, Radovanovic, Masiello, Ghiglione (Portanova 59), Zajc (Caso 46), Rovella, Melegoni (Eyango 79), Cassata (Shomurodov 46), Destro (Pandev 46), Pjaca. Bench: Perin, Paleari, C. Zapata, Goldaniga, Behrami, Strootman, Zappacosta, Eyango. Coach: Davide Ballardini.

Atalanta: Gollini, Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti, Hateboer, de Roon, Freuler (Pessina 46), Gosens (Palomino 76), Malinovskyi (Lammers 58), Miranchuk (Muriel 89), D. Zapata (Pašalić 46). Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Mæhle, Šutalo, Caldara, Ruggeri, Iličić. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Livio Marinelli from Tivoli.
Assistants: Pietro Dei Giudici from Latina and Orlando Pagnotta from Nocera Inferiore.
Fourth official: Antonio Giua from Olbia.
V.A.R.: Luca Banti from Livorno.
A.V.A.R.: Dario Cecconi from Empoli.

Notes: Rovella (G), Djimsiti (A), Toloi (A) booked.