ROME: Atalanta’s club winning run in Serie A ended with a 1-1 draw at Lazio as Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s first-half goal for the hosts was cancelled out by a late equaliser from Marco Brescianini.

The result ended Atalanta’s streak of 11 consecutive victories but Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are still top of the table with 41 points, one ahead of Internazionale who won 3-0 earlier at Cagliari. Lazio are fourth with 35 points.

Lazio started aggressively in the opening minutes, with Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi saving a double chance from Valentin Castellanos before Matteo Guendouzi capped the attack by sending a long-range effort off the post.

Atalanta had their first big chance around the 20-minute mark when Davide Zappacosta sent a low volley that skimmed the outside of the far post.

After dominating the first half, Lazio were rewarded in the 27th minute when Nicolo Rovella played a high through ball to Dele-Bashiru, who cut inside the box and sent a bouncing volley into the net to break the deadlock.

Gasperini told DAZN: “The most important chances came in the second half. If we had scored earlier, we would have had more opportunities to turn the game around after a very difficult first half where Lazio deserved their lead.

“We couldn’t handle their intensity, with all their players pressing hard. We struggled to win the ball back. On their goal, they were quicker than us in midfield. It took us a while to find our footing. Partly due to our shortcomings and largely because of their quality, we suffered a lot in the first half. Then in the second half, we played a different game.”

After Lazio’s goal, Atalanta grew into the match, with Ademola Lookman forcing the hosts’ keeper Ivan Provedel into a fingertip save just after the hour mark.

Lazio had a chance to effectively seal the match when a cross from a counterattack went past the still-reorganizing Atalanta defence, but Boulaye Dia failed to connect with the ball, unmarked in front of the goal.

Atalanta might have equalised minutes later when a corner landed at the feet of an unmarked Lookman just in front of goal, but defender Luca Pellegrini cleared the attempt off the line.

The visitors earned their draw when Brescianini easily tapped in an open goal from short distance two minutes before full-time om a Lookman assist.

Internazionale won 3-0 at Cagliari after a dominant second half brought goals for Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu.

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