Atalanta Defeat Napoli at the San Paolo

DBasia.news –  Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta became the third team to beat Napoli at the San Paolo this season after Juventus and Arsenal. Atalanta defeated Napoli in the Serie A match on Tuesday (23/4) early morning Western Indonesian Time.

Napoli, who tried to keep the runner-up position   Serie A because Juventus have become champions this season, had the lead in the 28th minute via a goal by Dries Mertens. But in the second half, Atalanta rose to comeback through two goals scored by Duvan Zapata (69 ‘) and Mario Pasalic (80’).

The goal from Pasalic was created beautifully because the attack on Atalanta started from the back line, played the hull ball forward, then ended the goal created by Pasalic. As a result, Atalanta won three points and kept their chance to enter the Champions League zone.

Atalanta now won 56 points and won the same points with fourth place standings, AC Milan. Gasperini wants Atalanta to maintain his focus on reaching the Champions League zone and also playing in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Fiorentina on Friday (26/4) at 1:45 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.

“We have a game that we are looking forward to on Thursday (against Fiorentina), but also knowing a victory here will also give a big boost. We are up there for Europe and close to Milan,” Gasperini said in   Football-Italy.

“We don’t say we are pursuing the Champions League zone, but we are up there, so let’s look and watch. There is also the Coppa Italia and reaching the final will be a great achievement for the City of Bergamo,” he continued.

On the contrary, Ancelotti was very disappointed with Napoli’s performances, especially in the second half of the season. Napoli swallowed two successive defeats at the San Paolo after previously defeated Arsenal in the Europa League with a score of 0-1.

“We lost something in the second half of the season. I don’t know if that happened because we lost players, but we are more likely to lose motivation and enthusiasm. Everything we can do is focus on securing second place and preparing for next season,” Ancelotti said.

“The first half of our season was very great and I was disappointed in the second half because this team can perform well and better. When the motivation is gone, you slow down to close the cross or also close the assist,” he concluded.

Napoli can no longer lose points and let the other teams approach. Because now they have 67 points and only six points adrift of third place, Inter Milan.

Player Formation:

Napoli (4-4-2):   David Ospina; Kevin Malcuit, Vlad Chiriches (Sebastiano Luperto 13), Kalidou Koulibaly, Elseid Hysaj; Jose Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz, Piotr Zielinski (Simone Verdi 81); Dries Mertens (Amin Younes 77), Arkadiusz Milik

Coach:   Carlo Ancelotti

Atalanta (3-5-2):   Pierluigi Gollini; Gianluca Mancini (Jose Luis Palomino 46), Berat Djimsiti, Andrea Masiello; Hans Hateboer (Robin Gosens 76), Marten de Roon, Remo Freuler (Josip Ilicic 54), Timothy Castagne; Papu Gomez; Mario Pasalic, Duvan Zapata

Coach:   Gian Piero Gasperini