Maldini shines but Atalanta fall to Parma comeback

Updated: May 25, 2025, 05:03 pm

May 25 (Reuters) - A quick-fire brace by Daniel Maldini was not enough for Atalanta, who saw a two-goal lead slip away in a 3-2 home loss to Parma on Sunday, securing the visitors' place in Serie A next season in the last match of the campaign.

Atalanta had little to play for, with third place and a Champions League spot long guaranteed, but the game was a thriller for Parma who were only two points above the relegation line before kick-off.

Maldini got his two goals in the space of a minute, tucking home a cross in the 32nd minute before rattling the frame of the goal with another well-placed shot.

The break seemed to breathe new life into Parma and three minutes into the second half Antoine Hainaut latched on to a loose ball in the box and smashed it in to drag his side back into the game.

In the 71th minute, Parma substitute Jacob Ondrejka cut through the Atalanta defence and sent a low shot into the net for the equaliser.

In stoppage time, Ondrejka scored his second to keep his side in the Italian top tier next year. (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; editing by Clare Fallon)