Atalanta failed to take their chances in the first half, so Salernitana took advantage with a late Antonio Candreva winner to shake up both the races for Europe and safety.
The hosts saw their 10-match unbeaten run ended by Empoli and went into this without Federico Fazio, Domen Crnigoj and suspended Dylan Bronn. La Dea saw their top four hopes dented by a home defeat to Juventus and had Joakim Maehle banned, plus Ademola Lookman, Jeremie Boga, Matteo Ruggeri, Jose Luis Palomino and Hans Hateboer injured.
When these sides met earlier this season, it ended 8-2 for Atalanta, leading to the dismissal of coach Davide Nicola.
Guillermo Ochoa was tested twice early on by Mario Pasalic and Duvan Zapata headers, while the Colombian turned a Brandon Soppy cross over from six yards as he went diving in.
Ex-Salernitana midfielder Ederson unleashed a screamer from distance that Ochoa flew to palm away, while Duvan Zapata’s header whistled just wide from a Marten de Roon cross.
Play became tricky in the second half as a full-blown thunderstorm erupted, then Atalanta lost Brandon Soppy to a suspected hamstring strain within two minutes of the restart.
Boulaye Dia really should’ve done better when blasting over the bar as he was sent clear by Flavius Daniliuc, then Krzysztof Piatek’s diving header was off target as he got the rebound from an intercepted Erik Botheim cross for Dia.
Berat Djimsiti limped off with a bruised foot and Salernitana dealt with the waterlogged pitch much better than Atalanta, piling on the pressure as the game wore on.
It paid off, as in stoppages substitute Candreva completed a give and go with Piatek to thump right-footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. This was his return to the side after injury, so he was not fit to start.
This result means that if Spezia do not beat Milan this evening, Salernitana are guaranteed Serie A safety.
Salernitana 1-0 Atalanta
Candreva 93 (S)
Player statistic
| 49' |  |
Giorgio Scalvini | ||
| Matteo Lovato | |
59' | ||
| 60' | |
Marten de Roon | ||
| Lassana Coulibaly | |
76' | ||
| Antonio Candreva (Assist: Krzysztof Piatek) |
 |
90+3' |
Match statistic
