Atalanta 0 v 1 Juventus LIVE - Juve steal all three points with early second-half goal despite Atalanta's dominance

An uninspired Juventus performance was nevertheless enough to see the Bianconeri leave Bergamo with all three points.

A mishit Jeremie Boga shot from close range early in the second half somehow looped into the Atalanta net, giving the visitors a slender lead they were able to hang onto for the rest of the match.

And the result all but ends Atalanta’s hopes of securing European football next season through the league, although they can still qualify for the Europa League if they win the Coppa Italia.

The first half had brought few big chances for either team, but it was the home side that came out most motivated to get something from the game. Several early passages of tight passing play allowed them to lay down foundations, although it produced few real threats to the Juventus goal.

On seven minutes, an Ederson pass out to the left played Nicola Zalewski into the box with only the keeper to beat, but the Polish player was unable to even force the save, sending his beyond the far post.

A better chance came just two minutes later when Zalewski himself hung up a sumptuous free kick across the box, met by Giorgio Scalvini at the far post. His downward header beat Michele Di Gregorio, but not the post, before bouncing away to safety.

Juventus offered little going forward, with Kenan Yildiz generating most of their creative options via a few lively runs in from the right. Juve didn’t have a shot of any sort inside the first 20 minutes, and the closest the away side came was on half an hour. Yildiz lofted a ball to the back post, which Lloyd Kelly leaped for, but couldn’t threaten the home goal.

The away side came out for the second half with a somewhat more constructive attitude - at least temporarily - which bore almost immediate fruit.

Emil Holm beat his marker and carried the ball down the right wing, before floating a cross into the middle. Atalanta's defensive line, which had held up well in the first half, made a mess of clearing the ball, and eventually it fell to Jeremie Boga.

Although Boga swiped at it, he made just enough contact for it to loop upwards, down and across the line. It wasn't pretty but it would do.

That was, it seemed, all Juventus cared to do, as for the next 42 minutes plus stoppages they proceeded to sit back, seemingly more intent on disruption and gamesmanship than creating from possession. 

That came at the cost of a couple of yellow cards - a small price to pay for preventing Atalanta from regaining their lost momentum, and rediscovering the innovation that had served them well in the first half.

Substitute Giacomo Raspadori tried to change things up with shots from distance and darting runs across, but nothing came of them.

The home side were sure they had a strong shout for a penalty on 87 minutes, when a cross from the byline hit the arm of Federico Gatti. Despite an enormous appeal from the supporters, referee Fabio Maresca was satisfied to award the corner, and allow Juventus to see the game out.

The result moves Juventus into fourth place, seven points ahead of seventh-placed Atalanta.

But it's beaten away by Di Gregorio. The Juve goalkeeper has arguably been their most impressive player, if not quite their most creaative.

All hope is not lost for Atalanta.

Just pushing them towards their own goal, with little interest in making anything happen themselves. All the away side want to do is see this one out.

They're adamant that it hit Gatti on the arm in an unnatural manner, but the video referee isn't even going to take a look. Again, there's the suggestion of, shall we say, "professionalism" in that action from Juventus.

Bellanova on for Zappacosta.

He made it look clumsy as he flew into Zappacosta on the right, but as the veteran looked set to make something happen, Kostic knew exactly what he was doing.

But it was always going wide.

Filip Kostic replaces Andrea Cambiaso, with Fabio Miretti coming on for Francisco Conceicao.

De Ketelaere's played him in from the right, but the low right footed effort is not as he'd have liked.

1.41 against 0.71, which rather sums up how this game has gone.

Defeat would surely put them out of Champions League contention. Their European future may hinge on winning the Coppa Italia.

De Ketelaere the victim once more.

Mario Pasalic on for Marten de Roon; Honest Ahanor on for Sean Kolasinac; Gianluca Scamacca replaces Nikola Krstovic. It's a big throw of the dice from Raffaele Palladino.

Teun Koopmeiners on for Khepheren Thuram; Federico Gatti replaces the hardworking Emil Holm.

Adrenaline fueled perhaps after his wild effort at goal, he goes in heavy on De Ketelaere.

Good strength from Emil Holm to not be pushed off the ball on the wing. He was able to pick out Thuram in the middle who shoots well wide.

A foul by Zappacosta which everyone felt was not one was poorly received by the Belgian, who goes into the book for dissent.

It's over the bar but took a deflection and means another corner for Atalanta. It hasn't yielded a goal yet, but that first substitution looked like a good one.