NAPLES: Goals by winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and defender Amir Rrahmani steered runaway leaders Napoli to a 2-0 home win over sixth-placed Atalanta in Serie A on Saturday, extending the visitors’ winless streak to four games.
Napoli extended their lead at the top of the table to 18 points while Atalanta remain sixth on 42 points, seven above seventh-placed Juventus and Bologna in eighth — both with a game in hand — and Udinese in ninth. Napoli winger Matteo Politano had a good chance to put the hosts in front in the sixth minute but his low shot was saved by the diving Atalanta keeper Juan Musso.
Napoli took the lead in the 60th minute when Victor Osimhen set up Kvaratskhelia, who slalomed inside the box before putting Napoli in front with a powerful strike into the roof of the net.
Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata had a chance to head home seconds later, but Napoli keeper Pierluigi Gollini pulled off another great save only to see Rrahmani double Napoli’s lead in the 77th with a towering header following a corner.
Napoli, who host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Wednesday, next travel to Torino in Serie A on March 19.Elsewhere, Bologna played a goalless draw against Lazio at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Pedro and Luis Alberto went close for Lazio in the first half while Lewis Ferguson and Musa Barrow hit the woodwork for the hosts.
Bologna remained in seventh six points behind Atalanta who occupy the last European slot.
Earlier, Udinese snapped a six-match winless streak with a 1-0 victory at Empoli.
Andrea Sottil’s team are ninth on 35 points, level with Juventus, after just their second win since the start of October.
Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2023
