Napoli kept themselves in the Scudetto race and practically ruled Atalanta out of a top four finish with a 3-1 victory in Bergamo, despite missing key players.
The Partenopei had Victor Osimhen and Amir Rrahmani suspended, plus Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alex Meret, Adam Ounas and Andrea Petagna injured, so Dries Mertens led the way just days after becoming a father, with 21-year-old Alessandro Zanoli getting his first start at right-back. Duvan Zapata was on the bench after nearly two months out, with Rafael Toloi and Merih Demiral out injured.
It was a strong start from the hosts, David Ospina palming away a Ruslan Malinovskyi header, but with their first real foray forward, Juan Musso rushed out and brought down Mertens for a penalty on Zanoli’s pass. Lorenzo Insigne converted with power at the near post to give Napoli the lead.
Atalanta continued to dominate possession and pour forward, Remo Freuler drilling wide, but again Napoli were clinical and doubled their lead.
Insigne flicked a free kick over the top and Matteo Politano caught the Atalanta defence napping for a smart volley from eight yards.
A desperate block on Ruslan Malinovskyi and a couple of Giorgio Scalvini headers over continued the Dea chances.
Jeremie Boga and Aleksei Miranchuk came on for the second half, the former Sassuolo man nodding wide, while Atalanta had penalty appeals waved away for Frank Anguissa bundling into the back of Muriel.
Moments later, La Dea did get a goal back, Miranchuk’s cross finding the head of Marten de Roon to steer into the top corner.
Mario Rui made a crucial interception to stop Miranchuk meeting a Boga assist, then David Ospina flew to fingertip a Boga strike out from under the bar.
Just as the hosts were throwing everything at them, Napoli struck on the counter-attack with Hirving Lozano rolling across for Eljif Elmas to calmly pass it beyond Musso.
Atalanta 1-3 Napoli
Insigne pen 14 (N), Politano 37 (N), De Roon 58 (A), Elmas 81 (N)