Atalanta held by Kairat Almaty after Krstovic's late equaliser

Atalanta had to come from behind to avoid defeat against Kairat Almaty in the Atalanta vs Kairat Almaty clash at New Balance Arena on matchday 3 of the UEFA Europa Conference League. M. Gual put the visitors ahead in the 53rd minute, before Nikola Krstović levelled from a corner in the 82nd minute.

Atalanta's slow start in front of goal

The home side did have the early pressure, and Jonathan Rowe supplied the first two Atalanta chances in the first half. Nicola Zalewski also found space to create one opening, while Mateo Pasalic shot wide from a favourable position.

That missed opportunity mattered once the game restarted. Atalanta went in level at half-time, but Kairat found the first clean strike after the break and forced the home side into a chase.

Krstovic delivers the response

Krstovic has already shown end product this autumn, with 2 goals and 1 assist in a recent domestic outing, and he carried that touch into Europe here. His equaliser came from a corner, a route that kept Atalanta alive after Gual's opener had shifted the pressure back on them.

The point does not erase the wastefulness before the break, and it will not feel entirely comfortable for Atalanta either. They entered the night with 3 points from 2 Conference League matches and were 15th in the table, while Kairat arrived on 1 point and 31st in the standings. A home draw keeps the group situation moving, but this was still a night in which Atalanta needed a late set piece to avoid a worse result.