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Rome (AFP) – Napoli rose to the top by beating their main rivals, Atalanta, 2-1 on Saturday in the thirteenth round of Lega Calcio.
The southern club came in comeback with a goal from Nigerian Ademola Lookman (19 from a penalty), winning thanks to the latter’s compatriot Victor Osimhen (23) and Elif Elmas from North Macedonia (35).
Napoli, the leader and the only one who has not lost so far in “Serie A”, hit two birds with one stone, so they regained their winning tone after losing on Tuesday to Liverpool in the Champions League, and walked away from ‘Atalanta by 8 points (35 against 27) during the stage that saw another top match between Juventus and Inter on Sunday.
Napoli got a great start to the season at home and on the continent, only troubled by the recent defeat against Liverpool, but after securing the qualification before playing it, they then managed to keep the lead despite the defeat, winning first leg 1 – 4.
Napoli have been chasing their first title since 1990, when the late Argentine star Diego Armando Maradona took him to his second title in its history.
Napoli had lost three of their pillars over the summer with the departure of their Belgian strikers, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne, respectively to Galatasaray, Turkey, and Toronto, Canada, and Senegalese defense tycoon Kalidou Coulibaly also joined. transferred to Chelsea.
At home in Bergamo, Atalanta press in advance and get a penalty after a handball in the area on the Nigerian striker of Napoli Osimhen, and after returning to the referee video assistant (VAR) to confirm, the latter’s citizen Lookman He hits her with a powerful shot for to the left of goalkeeper Alex Merritt (19). His sixth goal in Serie A this season.
Napoli did not take long to respond with Osimhen, who made up for the error with a header to the left of the Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso (23).
It is the Nigerian international’s eighth goal in the league this season.
Coach Luciano Spalletti’s men translated ball possession by 68%, and their collective game with 205 successful passes out of 230 attempts from the start of the match, on the second goal after a ground pass by Osimhen to North Macedonia midfielder Elmas who controls the ball, dribbles the goalkeeper and kicks foot The Brazilian left Ederson fails to block the net (35).
At the beginning of the second half Atalanta nearly equalized after a penetration from the left corridor into the area and a shot by the Danish Joachim Malle was rejected by the goalkeeper Merit, to return Lookman hitting the crossbar (55).
The two coaches made several substitutions to change the course of the game, and Argentine substitute Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego, nearly scored the third goal at Napoli, 3 minutes after falling in place of Osimhen, but his penalty point ground shot passed along the post (78).
Empoli beat Sassuolo 1-0, and Salernitana drew host Cremonese 2-2.
Later Milan receives its guest, the Spezia.
The stage continues on Sunday, where he will play in a second summit in Rome against Lazio in the derby of the Capital, and Bologna with Turin, and Montaza against Verona, and Sampdoria with Fiorentina.
© 2022 AFP
