Akor Adams started for Venezia but was powerless to prevent his side from slipping to a sixth straight Serie A defeat, as Atalanta ran out 3-1 winners at the Gewiss Stadium on Monday.

The Nigerian forward has now made six appearances in the Italian top flight since arriving from Sevilla in the summer transfer window, contributing just one goal across those outings.

Atalanta's fast start proves decisive

Atalanta, themselves coming off three consecutive league losses, wasted no time in putting the game to bed. Franck Kessie broke the deadlock in the 4th minute, latching onto Nikola Krstovic's through ball and delicately chipping over goalkeeper Filip Stankovic.

The lead was doubled almost immediately. Just three minutes later, Krstovic rose to meet Eljif Elmas' corner and headed home to make it 2-0.

Any hope of a Venezia fightback faded further in the 31st minute when Krstovic completed his brace. Stankovic could only parry Jonathan Rowe's strike, and the striker was first to the rebound to make it 3-0.

Venezia's only consolation

Venezia managed a late response before half-time. Antoine Hainaut nodded in Richie Sagrado's cross in the 37th minute to pull one back — but it was no more than a consolation on a difficult evening for the relegation-threatened side.

The result lifts Atalanta to 10th place in the standings, with nine points from six matches. Venezia, meanwhile, remain anchored to the foot of the table — the only club in Serie A yet to earn a single point this season after six rounds of fixtures.