AS Roma’s crushing defeat at Inter Milan earlier in the weekend opened the door for La Dea to enhance their European qualification ambitions, but they started slowly in Salento.
Luckily for them, Lecce possess the division’s least effective attack and only mustered one early chance to break the deadlock, as Sadik Fofana blazed high over the bar, having been picked out by a Ylber Ramadani cross.
Once Raffaele Palladino’s men got going, it was clear that Charles De Ketelaere was their danger man, and the Belgian was denied by a strong save from Lecce captain Wladimiro Falcone after he had linked up with Nikola Krstovic.
The Atalanta opener duly arrived just before the half-hour mark with De Ketelaere again involved, this time finding Giorgio Scalvini, who breezed past Oumar Ngom and lashed home his third goal of the season, two of which have come against Lecce.
The visitors showed no sign of resting on their laurels and were perhaps disappointed not to head into the interval with a greater lead, with Krstovic twice going close to a goal against his former side, only to head over before a more powerful strike was denied by Falcone.
Lecce’s failure to register a single shot on target before the break prompted boss Eusebio Di Francesco to introduce Omri Gandelman at the break, but Atalanta remained on top after the restart.
Only the offside flag saved the hosts from falling two behind when Ederson tapped in at the back post, while Falcone was quick off his line to dispossess the dangerous De Ketelaere.
Inevitably, the Belgian played a starring role in Atalanta’s second, picking out Krstovic to slot into the bottom corner at his former ground – the seventh of his last nine goals to come on the road.
La Dea were able to take their foot off the gas in the closing stages, yet still added a third through Giacomo Raspadori’s powerful finish, which came just moments after another Falcone save to deny Ederson.
Atalanta are now unbeaten in six head-to-heads, and serious contenders in the European qualification race, while Lecce remain inside the relegation zone after seeing their winless record against top-half opposition stretch to 17 games this season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta)
