The away match comprised in matchday 26 of the 2022-2023 Serie A TIM against the league leaders resulted in a 2-0 defeat at the Maradona Stadium in Naples.
The first half was hard-fought and well balanced. Politano had a go for Napoli in the 6th minute but his effort was turned behind for a corner by Musso, and then Kvaratskhelia’s shot from the tightest of angles was again parried by the Atalanta goalkeeper. The Argentine shot-stopper was once again alert in the 41st minute when he pulled off a diving save to deny Politano.
The hosts stepped up the pressure in the second half and threatened with an Osimhen header in the 59th minute that was inches wide. The deadlock was broken on the stroke of the hour mark by Kvaratskhelia, who fired into the roof of the net after slaloming through the defence. Atalanta’s reaction came in the 73rd minute through Muriel, whose low drive was parried by Gollini, and Zapata, whose header was smothered by the Napoli goalkeeper. However, the hosts doubled their lead on 77 minutes, with Rrahmani nodding in from a corner. The last chance of the game came off Ruggeri, who hit a ferocious strike in the 84th minute that stung Gollini’s gloves, with the away game against Napoli ending 2-0.
The team will now enjoy a day off, as they will be back on Monday for an afternoon training session taking place at the Centro Bortolotti behind closed doors. At that point, the squad will kick off preparations for the home match against Empoli.
NAPOLI 2-0 ATALANTA
Scorers: Kvaratskhelia 59 (N), Rrahmani 77 (N).
Napoli: Gollini, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim (Juan Jesus 76), Olivera, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski (Ndombelé 66), Politano (Elmas 66), Osimhen (Simeone 85), Kvaratskhelia (Zerbin 85). Bench: Meret, Marfella, Demme, Bereszynski, Zedadka, Ostigard, Gaetano. Coach: Luciano Spalletti.
Atalanta: Musso, Toloi (Lookman 89), Djimsiti (Demiral 44), Scalvini, Mæhle (Zappacosta 68), de Roon, Éderson, Ruggeri, Pašalić (Boga 68), Højlund (Muriel 46), Zapata. Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Okoli, Palomino, Soppy. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Andrea Colombo from Como.
Assistant referees: Alessio Berti from Prato and Valerio Colarossi from Rome 2.
Fourth official: Daniele Doveri from Rome 1.
V.A.R.: Paolo Valeri from Rome 1.
A.V.A.R.: Rosario Abisso from Palermo.
Notes: Ruggeri (A), Osimhen (N) and Scalvini (A) booked.
