Atalanta 1-3 Napoli: Higuain brace sinks La Dea

Published on: 20 December 2015

Napoli have returned to winning ways, defeating a resilient Atalanta by a score of 3-1 at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.

Marek Hamsik gave the visitors the lead before Alejandro Gomez equalised only for Gonzalo Higuain to add a brace.

It was the home side who came out on the front foot when German Denis found Maximiliano Moralez in space after some but goalkeeper Pepe Reina came out well to block the shot.

The two linked up again 30 seconds later when a Moralez cross just missed Denis’s head who was left all alone eight yards out.

Napoli’s first real chance came in the eighth minute when Lorenzo Insigne played square to Gonzalo Higuain after a darting run into box but the Argentine’s effort on the turn was deflected just wide of the goal.

In the 14th minute a Napoli counterattack saw Elseid Hysaj play through to Higuain who’s sliding effort was too close to the keeper.

Insigne found Marek Hamsik parked centrally outside the box at the half hour mark but the Slovakian’s effort ballooned over the bar.

In the 34th minute Alberto Grassi teed himself up well for a volley but his finish didn’t match the initial piece of skill.

Just before the break Luca Cigarini’s powerful left-footed effort was met by the strong arm of Reina.

Five minutes after the interval Higuain unleashed a fierce strike that was well saved by Bassi at the near post.

The resulting corner saw a moment of insanity from Marten de Roon who held out an arm to slap the ball away from Higuain. Referee Gianluca Rocchi appropriately called for the penalty.

Hamsik stepped up and converted the spot kick. There was a brief moment of uncertainty when the shot crashed off the crossbar and came straight down but the goal-line official correctly adjudged the ball to have crossed the line.

Atalanta responded instantly with some clever link-up play. Moralez played Denis into the box who shielded the ball well before laying the ball off to Alejandro Gomez who slotted his volley into the bottom corner of the net.

Hamsik played Higuain through at the hour mark and the in-form striker did well to round the keeper but his effort went harmlessly over the gaping goal.

More poor defending at corner kicks saw Atalanta go behind again in the 62nd minute. De Roon was again the culprit as some slack marking allowed Higuain to rise and nod in his 15th goal of the campaign.

Napoli were reduced to 10 men in the 73rd minute when Jorginho received a second yellow card for a late tackle on de Roon.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Napoli doubled their lead when Hamsik released Higuain on goal, the league-leading scorer tucking the ball into the far corner and adding yet another to his impressive tally.

Last-man Gabriel Paletta was sent off in stoppage time for pulling Mertens down in the box. Hamsik stepped up once again but skied his second penalty.

The result leaves Napoli one point off the top and the Bergamo side sit ninth.

Source: forzaitalianfootball.com

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