Akor Adams features as Venezia suffer sixth successive Serie A defeat

Nigerian international Akor Adams was unable to prevent Venezia from falling to a sixth consecutive Serie A defeat as Atalanta claimed a 3-1 victory on Monday.

The result leaves Venezia bottom of the table with no points from their opening six matches, making them the only team in Serie A yet to register a point this season. Atalanta moved up to 10th with nine points from six games.

Adams made his sixth appearance in the Italian top flight since joining Venezia from Sevilla in the summer. The forward has scored once for the club during that period.

Atalanta had entered the match after losing their previous three league games but made an emphatic start. Franck Kessie opened the scoring in the fourth minute, running on to Nikola Krstovic’s pass before lifting the ball over Venezia goalkeeper Filip Stankovic.

Krstovic extended the hosts’ advantage only three minutes later. The forward met Eljif Elmas’ corner with a header to make it 2-0.

Atalanta added a third goal in the 31st minute, with Krstovic completing his brace. Jonathan Rowe’s effort was saved by Stankovic, but Krstovic reacted quickest to the rebound and finished from close range.

Venezia pulled one goal back four minutes before half-time. Antoine Hainaut headed in Richie Sagrado’s cross in the 37th minute, but the home side could not find a way back into the match after the interval.

Adams had recently scored for Nigeria during the international break, finding the net in stoppage time as the Super Eagles fought back to draw 3-3 with Russia in an international friendly.

The AFCON 2025 bronze medal winner completed Nigeria’s comeback after they had been 3-1 behind at one stage of the contest.

For Venezia, the defeat extends a difficult opening to the campaign, with their points tally still at zero after six matches. Atalanta, meanwhile, ended their three-match losing run in the league with a victory that lifted them into the top half of the table.