Monza made the chances, Atalanta took the goal

Monza had nearly double their usual shots at home and still lost 1-0 to Atalanta, who created less and kept the only goal.

Monza had nearly double the shots they usually take at home, and they still lost 1-0 to Atalanta at the Stadio Brianteo. Their 22 attempts were the striking figure, but the goal came from Nikola Krstović, who scored shortly after the restart. Ivan Juric was also sent off in the 90th minute after a second yellow card, so Monza finished with ten men, though only for the final moment of the game.

A shot count shows how often a side tried, not how good those tries were. Expected goals, usually written as xG, is the measure that fills that gap: each chance is given a value between zero and one based on where it was taken from, and the total estimates how many goals a side should have scored. Monza's 1.42 sat close to their home average of 1.49, so the quality of their chances was ordinary for them. What changed was the volume, with 15 of those attempts coming inside the box.

Atalanta's picture was the reverse. They had 52% of the ball, above their away average of 47.6%, but produced far fewer attempts than usual on the road. Their xG came to 1.17 against an away average of 1.61, so they created less than normal and still came away with the points. Both sides hit the target seven times each, which meant the goalkeepers had work to do, and the Atalanta keeper, M. Carnesecchi, made seven saves and was rated 9.2.

Monza's possession was 48%, above their home average of 43.8%, so they had more of the ball than they usually keep in front of their own supporters. The problem was turning it into goals. They scored nothing against a home average of 1.7, and they conceded only one, fewer than the 2.4 they usually let in at home. Their own goalkeeper, N. Törnqvist, made six saves and was rated 7.6, which tells you how often Atalanta were forced to think twice.

Krstović's contribution was the most efficient of the afternoon. He had three shots, two of them on target, and was rated 8. Monza's chief threat in the attacking third came from Jay Robinson, who had three shots, two on target, and was rated 6.8, while L. Lucchesi finished with the best rating on the home side among the outfield players at 7.3. Those ratings reflect the quality of performance, but the scoreline said the chances were not turned into goals at the Brianteo.

Monza sit 18th in the table, with seven points from their ten home games. Atalanta are 13th, with 11 points from ten away matches, and have won three of those away games. Atalanta's form on the road has been better than Monza's at home, and this result reflects that gap.

At home this season Monza have scored 17 goals and conceded 24, and they have won two of their ten games, drawing one. This was another match in which Monza had the more chances but came away with nothing from them.

Player of the matchM. Carnesecchi7 saves9.2

N. Krstović1 goal8.0

N. Törnqvist6 saves7.5

G. Scalvini5 duels won7.5