Napoli takes a comeback from Atalanta and loses Serie A lead; Inter beats Roma 3-0

This Saturday, the Naples lost to Atalanta, at home, by 3-2. The match, played at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, was valid for the 16th round of the A league. Piotr Zielinski and Dries Mertens scored for the home team, while Ruslan Malinovsky, Merih Demiral and Remo Freuler scored for the visitors.

With the result, the Neapolitan team leaves the leadership of the Italian Championship, is in 3rd position and has 36 points. The club from Bergamo, in turn, has 34 and comes just below the table.

Napoli returns to the field on Thursday, at 2:45 pm (GMT), when they receive the Leicester City for the last round of Europa League. The game is decisive for the Italians, who do not have a guaranteed presence in the next phase.

Also looking for a continental spot, Atalanta returns to the pitch on Wednesday, at 5 pm, when it faces the Villarreal, in their domains, by the 6th round of the Champions League. The team from Bergamo has not yet qualified for the round of 16 of the tournament.

⏱ 94’ | Full Time ⏹#NaplesAtalanta 2-3

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— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) December 4, 2021

The game – Under the command of Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta opened the scoring after seven minutes, with Malinovsky. The Ukrainian received a pass from Duván Zapata inside the area and submitted a high finish, with no chance of defense for David Ospina.

Napoli, coached by Luciano Spalletti, controlled ball possession and put pressure on the opponent in the first half. The equalizing goal came in the 40th minute, with Zielinski. In the first attempt, the ball hit the opponent, but returned to the Polish. On the second chance, he didn’t waste it: he kicked hard, high, and left everything the same.

The home team managed to turn around at the beginning of the complementary stage. At two minutes, Mertens was fired in depth by Kevin Malcuit and, facing the goal, hit low, taking off the goalkeeper.

At 21, Demiral received a deep pass from Rafael Tolói on the right. With little angle, the Turkish finished high to tie the duel. Five minutes later, Freuler turned to Atalanta. After a good touch from Josip Ilicic, he hit from below, on the goalkeeper’s right corner, and scored the third of the visiting team, celebrating the triumph.

Inter beats Rome with ease

Also this Saturday, the International won from Roma, away from home, by 3-0. All goals at the Estádio Olímpico were scored in the first half. Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring at 15, Edin Dzeko added nine minutes later and Denzel Dumfries scored the last at 39.

With the victory, Inter is in second place in the Italian Championship and has 37 points – it is one distance from rival Milan. Roma, in turn, is the 5th place with 25 points.

The Milan team returns to the field on Tuesday, at 17:00 (GMT), when they face the Real Madrid away from home for the 6th round of the group stage of the Champions League. The team from the Italian capital will face CSKA Sofia, in Bulgaria, for the last duel in the Conference League.