Atalanta secured a vital 3-1 victory over Venezia to snap a worrying run of three consecutive defeats, but the triumph came at a heavy cost for manager Maurizio Sarri. The club is now sweating on the fitness of defenders Giorgio Scalvini and Raoul Bellanova, both of whom were forced off with injuries, while Eljif Elmas has been ruled out of Sunday’s crucial trip to face Ruben Amorim’s Milan at the San Siro following a late red card.
Defensive Blows Cast Shadow Over Venezia Victory
As reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, Scalvini and Bellanova both sustained muscle problems during Monday’s fixture and had to be withdrawn simultaneously in the 67th minute, making way for Lorenzo Bernasconi and Sead Kolasinac. Both players are scheduled to undergo medical evaluations in the coming hours to determine the exact severity of their respective muscle strains.
The potential absence of Scalvini serves as a major headache for Sarri. Prior to Monday’s match, the young central defender had played every single minute of Atalanta’s league campaign, anchoring the backline with remarkable consistency. Losing him alongside Bellanova ahead of a congested fixture list presents a significant tactical dilemma.
Elmas Red Card Compounds Selection Crisis
Adding to Sarri’s mounting selection issues, midfielder Eljif Elmas completely turned a routine victory into a disciplinary nightmare in the dying seconds of the match. The North Macedonian international was initially cautioned for a reckless challenge in the 89th minute. However, referee Paride Tremolada was directed to the pitchside VAR monitor, leading to the yellow card being upgraded to a straight red.
San Siro Trip Without Elmas
The resulting suspension rules Elmas out of Sunday’s high-profile Serie A encounter against Milan at the San Siro under Ruben Amorim. It is a compounding setback for a squad already navigating a brutal schedule of eight matches in just 24 days, which includes an upcoming UEFA Conference League fixture against Pafos on Thursday.
- Raoul Bellanova and Giorgio Scalvini forced off with muscle injuries in the 67th minute.
- Both defenders scheduled for medical tests to assess recovery timelines.
- Eljif Elmas handed a straight red card following a VAR review in the 89th minute.
- Elmas suspended for Sunday’s Serie A clash against Milan at the San Siro.
- Atalanta face a grueling schedule of eight matches in 24 days, including a Conference League tie against Pafos.