Atalanta played out a six-goal thriller with Napoli on Sunday in a game that saw all six goals scored in the second half.
Goals from Duvan Zapata, Robin Gosens, Luis Muriel and Cristian Romero ensured that Atalanta ended the game in 4th position ahead of Napoli, who remained rooted in 7th place three points behind their Sunday hosts.
The game, which saw six second-half goals, had little talking points in the first half except for Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s sending off in the 26th minute. The Italian was sent off for stepping out of his box by referee Di Bello. Meanwhile, Napoli came closest to scoring in half through Victor Osimhen, but the Nigerian striker could only direct his header on the crossbar after being set up in the area.
However, after 45 minutes without goals, the game began in earnest, with the second half kicking off with fireworks from the off as three goals coming in the space of 12 minutes.
Six Second-half Goals
First, it was Duvan Zapata who opened the scoring for Atalanta with a firm header following a Luis Muriel’s cross in the 52nd minute.
Napoli equalised almost immediately via a subtle finish from Piotr Zielinski from inside the box. However, the equaliser lasted only six minutes, with goals scorer Duvan Zapata turning creator and setting up Robin Gosens to score and restore his side’s one-goal cushion.
Luis Muriel put the hosts two up in the 71st minute after weaving his way past the Napoli defence, but Napoli clawed a goal back five minutes later when Robin Gosens put the goal into his own net.
However, Cristian Romero spared his teammate’s blushes and restored his side’s two-goal cushion with a fine header in the 79th minute that settled the scores for the game.
The game still had time for more drama as Napoli record signing Victor Osimhen had to be rushed out of the field after slumping in the closing stages of the game.
The win ensured that Atalanta finished three points ahead of their visitors, who have now won just once in their last five competitive matches.
