Atalanta recorded their first victory in 15 games to potentially save manager Edy Reja's job as they defeated nine-man Bologna 2-0.
Reja had received no assurances on his position following his club's alarming slide, which was eventually halted by first-half goals from Alejandro Gomez and Alessandro Diamanti, before Ibrahima Mbaye and Daniele Gastaldello were both dismissed late on.
Ex-West Ham forward Diamanti squared for Gomez to break the deadlock with a close-range finish before scoring himself as Mauricio Pinilla teed him up.
Pinilla then had a penalty saved, yet it did not prove costly as Mbaye was sent off for a lunge on Gomez and Gastaldello, booked when he conceded the spot-kick, followed him for two cautions.