Atalanta 1-2 Napoli: What Did We Learn As The Azzurri Lay Down Another Serie A Marker?

In what was a showdown at the top of the Serie A table on Saturday evening, Napoli picked up a stellar 2-1 victory away at Atalanta.

While former Leicester winger Ademola Lookman might have opened the scoring from the penalty spot after just 19 minutes, Luciano Spalletti’s men mounted a stunning comeback at the Gewiss Stadium.

With attacking talisman Victor Osimhen and Elif Elmas bagging a quickfire brace before heading into the half-time break, the Azzurri managed to widen their advantage at the top of the Serie A table.

Laying down a real marker in Bergamo and extending their buffer over the chasing pack to a commanding eight-point lead, Napoli will find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high.

In the midst of what has become a remarkable purple patch, what did we learn from Saturday’s battle at the Gewiss Stadium?

Napoli are storming their way to the history books

While Napoli might have been disappointed to have suffered a 2-0 loss away at Premier League giants Liverpool earlier in the week, Saturday’s guests certainly came roaring back here.

Breezing their way to the knockout stage of this season’s Champions League and gaining a string of plaudits from across Europe, Spalletti’s side appear to be a standout pick to claim a first domestic crown since 1990.

Putting in another clinical display in Bergamo and now holding an eight-point buffer over the chasing pack, Napoli should be smelling the chance to make real Serie A history this time around.

Already picking up a string of heavyweight scalps since opening the 2022/23 campaign, the former Inter Milan boss has also seen his side gain a fearsome reputation for their free-scoring displays in the final third.

Mustering 32 Serie A strikes in their opening 13 top-flight appearances, the Azzurri couldn’t have wished for a better display away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Osimhen is one of Europe’s elite

Spearheading Napoli’s first-half comeback on Saturday evening and dragging the Azzurri level just four minutes after Lookman’s opener, Spalletti will be hugely excited by Osimhen’s stellar run of form heading into the festive break.

While the Nigerian international might have endured a couple of injury issues this season, the 23-year-old has come roaring back and finds his stock at an all-time high.

Along with bagging a hat-trick in Napoli’s 4-0 romp at home against Sassuolo when closing October, Osimhen has now racked up seven strikes in just his last six appearances across all formats since returning from a month spell on the sidelines.

Now leading the race to claim this year’s Golden Boot, the ex-Lille striker is now regarded to be among Europe’s most sort after talents.

Heavily linked with a potential move to Manchester United over the summer, it is no secret that a host of European heavyweights are keeping tabs on Osimhen. However, it is believed that Napoli have placed a £90million price tag on their attacking talisman.

Atalanta need to find some stability in Bergamo

Although Atalanta were left frustrated after missing out on a European spot last season, it appears that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have put many of those issues behind them.

However, largely second best after taking their early lead on Saturday evening, La Dea do have the feel of a side seeking some recent stability in Bergamo.

Suffering a deserved 2-0 loss at the hands of Lazio on October 23rd and now getting hit with back-to-back Serie A defeats at the Gewiss Stadium, Atalanta will be desperate to prove that this is nothing more than a minor blip before heading into the festive break.

While Gasperini’s men might have now picked up just a pair of domestic victories from their previous five attempts, Saturday’s hosts still appear to be sat in pole position to claim a Champions League return this season.

Atalanta will be next seen on November 9th when they make the trip to Leece before closing 2022 with a heavyweight showdown against former champions Inter Milan in Bergamo.

Match Report:

Atalanta: Musso, Toloi, Demiral, Scalvini, Hateboer, Koopmeiners, Ederson, Maehle, Pasalic, Lookman, Hojlund

Subs: Boga, De Roon, Malinovsky, Soppy, Zapata

Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Kim, Juan Jesus, Olivera, Zielinski, Lobotka, Anguissa, Lozanp, Osimhen, Elmas

Subs: Simeone, Zerbin, Politano, Gaetano

Goals: Atalanta: Lookman (pen 19′) – Napoli: Osimhen (23′), Elmas (35′)

Yellow Cards: Atalanta: Demiral, Hojlund, Maehle, Toloi, Zapata – Napoli: Kim

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Maurizio Mariani