Atalanta held by lowly Venezia as race gets nervy
Atalanta was held to a 0-0 draw by second-from-bottom Venezia, missing the chance to move level on points with Serie A leader Inter Milan ahead of its clash with fellow title rival Napoli.
Atalanta widemen Davide Zappacosta and Juan Cuadrado both hit the woodwork from tight angles before the break, with La Dea dominating the first half but failing to break through.
Mateo Retegui, the league's leading scorer, also missed two good opportunities before the interval and would later misfire in the second half.
He blasted over the crossbar from close range in the 50th minute, in what represented Atalanta's best chance for a winner.
After the frustrating stalemate, Gian Piero Gasperini's side remains third on the table with 55 points, one behind second-placed Napoli and two off Inter.
It would have been some relief for Atalanta when Napoli equalised late in that game to secure a point from a 1-1 draw, and leave the sitution at the top of the table unchanged.
Venezia, meanwhile, is 19th with 18 points, five adrift of Parma in 17th.
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged it was a missed opportunity for Atalanta, but insisted all his players must not be discouraged.
"This is football, there's little to reproach," he said after the match. "The lads did everything they could. Venezia are a tough team, they didn't allow us to maintain a consistent rhythm.
"If you don't break the deadlock, you always run a risk. At home, they take more chances. We also wasted some opportunities. We created several opportunities. But right now, we're less precise.
"These lads must not get discouraged, this is football. Serie A matches are always like this. Right now, everyone is pushing to the limit."
