Following the defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, there were anticipations that Napoli would crumble against Atalanta on Saturday evening.
With Luciano Spalletti’s side conceding an early goal from Ademola Lookman’s penalty (awarded to the hosts after the ball hit Victor Osimhen’s arm inside the box), it indeed appeared that this could be the end to Napoli’s unbeaten run in Serie A.
But just four minutes after the 19th-minute deadlock-breaker, Osimhen rose the highest to find the net from a header on the back of a well-placed delivery from Piotr Zieliński.
The Nigerian played an important role by shielding the ball under pressure from Merih Demiral and provided a cunning pass to Eljif Elmas, who did his trickery before slotting the ball home in the 35th minute of the game and giving table toppers a 2-1 lead in the scoreline.
In the second half, Joakim Mæhle made a sensational solo run to enter the Napoli box. But neither he nor Lookman could find a finish, eventually hitting the bar once and missing a golden chance.
Despite making substitutions and putting enormous pressure on the visiting defence, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team could not find the equaliser. The final whistle, hence, became the declaration of Napoli’s three points. Their unbeaten run in the league has now extended to 13 games.
FT: Atalanta 1-2 Napoli
GIFN | Jyotirmoy Halder
