Matchday 13 of the 2023-2024 Serie A TIM saw the visitors run out 2-1 winners from the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
The first chance of the evening was for Gasperini’s men on 22 minutes when Pašalić’s header from a free kick was smothered by Gollini. The first half also saw both sides pick up injuries, as first Zappacosta and then Olivera were forced to leave the pitch. After Rrahmani’s 34th-minute goal was disallowed for offside, Kvaratskhelia put the visitors in front in the 44th minute with a header from Di Lorenzo’s cross. One minute into stoppage time, the Nerazzurri were inches away from equalising when Koopmeiners’ header was beaten away by Gollini. The visitors threatened twice just before half-time: while Zelinski was denied by Carnesecchi, Di Lorenzo’s effort was blocked by Scalvini.
Ruggeri came on in the second half and immediately made an impact, forcing a save out of Gollini with a shot from a point-blank position. The equaliser arrived in the 53rd minute: Hateboer’s cross found Lookman’s towering header, which looped into the far bottom corner to make it 1-1. After Pašalić’s 68th-minute goal had given Atalanta the lead but was ruled out for a Koopmeiners offside in the build-up, Koopmeiners’ effort was charged down by the Napoli defence. The second period also saw Bonfanti, an Atalanta Academy product, make his Serie A debut before Elmas put Napoli back in front on 79 minutes. The Nerazzurri pushed hard in the final minutes in search of an equaliser but failed to snatch a point against the titleholders at the Gewiss Stadium.
No rest for the team on Sunday, as Gasperini’s men will immediately get back to work tomorrow with a morning training session at the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia to prepare for the UEFA Europa League match against Sporting CP.
ATALANTA 1-2 NAPOLI
Scorers: Kvaratskhelia 44 (N), Lookman 53 (A), Elmas 79 (N)
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolašinac (Bonfanti 31), Zappacosta (Hateboer 34), Éderson, Koopmeiners, Bakker (Ruggeri 46), Pašalić, De Ketelaere (Muriel 83), Lookman (Scamacca 83). Bench: Musso, Rossi, Holm, Zortea, Adopo, Miranchuk. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Napoli: Gollini, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan (Ostigard 78), Olivera (Juan Jesus 39), Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski (Cajuste 78), Politano (Elmas 63), Raspadori (Osimhen 63), Kvaratskhelia. Bench: Meret, Contini, Demme, Simeone, Zerbin, Zanoli, Gaetano. Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
Referee: Maurizio Mariani from Aprilia (Assistant referees: Alessandro Giallatini from Roma 2 and Luigi Rossi from Rovigo, Fourth Official Davide Ghersini from Genova, V.A.R. Paolo Valeri from Roma 2, A.V.A.R. Daniele Paterna from Teramo).
Notes: Natan (N), Djimsiti (A), Mazzarri (N), Di Lorenzo (N) and Kolašinac (A) booked.
