Atalanta U23 secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Vis Pesaro in their Italian Serie C encounter on 29 October 2026, producing a performance that underlined both the promise and the resilience of the young Atalanta side. A second-half winner settled a contest that had swung back and forth, giving the home team three valuable points in a competitive Serie C campaign.

Atalanta U23 edge a tense Serie C contest

Atalanta U23 started with the energy expected of a development side packed with ambitious young players, pressing Vis Pesaro high and forcing early turnovers. The breakthrough arrived in the 18th minute when Lorenzo Bernasconi found space on the edge of the box and guided a low finish beyond the goalkeeper. It was a goal that rewarded Atalanta’s aggressive start and had the home support sensing control.

Vis Pesaro, however, responded with the kind of compact, disciplined approach that makes them difficult to break down. They slowed the tempo, defended in a mid-block and began to find joy down the flanks. Their equaliser came in the 42nd minute through Tommaso Busatto, who capitalised on a loose ball inside the area and swept it home to send the teams into half-time level.

Key moments

• 18’ – Atalanta U23 1-0 Vis Pesaro: Lorenzo Bernasconi opens the scoring with a composed finish after sustained pressure.
• 42’ – Atalanta U23 1-1 Vis Pesaro: Tommaso Busatto reacts quickest in the box to level the match before the break.
• 77’ – Atalanta U23 2-1 Vis Pesaro: Andrea Ceresoli arrives late in the penalty area and converts the winning goal.
• 88’ – Vis Pesaro push forward: A late spell of pressure forces Atalanta U23 to defend deep, but the home side holds firm.

Tactical story

Atalanta U23’s approach was built on quick ball circulation and aggressive counter-pressing. Their midfield looked to win the ball high and immediately release runners into the channels, which created several promising openings in the first half. The young side’s enthusiasm occasionally left space behind the full-backs, and Vis Pesaro tried to exploit that with direct passes into the wide areas.

After the break, Atalanta U23 managed the game more maturely. They kept possession for longer spells and reduced the number of transitions Vis Pesaro could profit from. The winning goal came from exactly that control: a patient move ended with the ball worked into the box and Ceresoli timing his run perfectly to finish. Vis Pesaro pushed for a second equaliser late on, but Atalanta’s back line dealt with the crosses and set pieces that came their way.

Standout players

Lorenzo Bernasconi was central to Atalanta U23’s attacking play, not only for his opening goal but for the way he linked midfield and attack. Andrea Ceresoli produced the decisive moment and grew into the game as it opened up in the second half. For Vis Pesaro, goalkeeper Filippo Neri made several important saves to keep his side in the contest, while Busatto’s equaliser showed his sharpness inside the area.

What the result means

The win gives Atalanta U23 another important boost in the Serie C standings and reinforces their reputation as a side capable of mixing youthful attacking football with gritty results. For Vis Pesaro, the defeat is a frustrating one after an encouraging first-half response, but their compact shape and ability to stay in the game until the closing stages suggest they will remain competitive in the division. The match report will be remembered for Atalanta’s late winner and the continued development of a squad built around young, hungry players.