In Serie A on Saturday, goals from winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and defender Amir Rrahmani helped runaway leaders Napoli defeat sixth-placed Atalanta 2-0 at home, extending the visitors’ winless run to four games.
Napoli, who last week lost to Lazio at home for just their second league loss, increased their lead at the top of the standings to 18 points after Inter, who was in second place with 50 points, suffered a shocking 2-1 loss at lowly Spezia on Friday.
Atalanta, who were held to a scoreless draw by Udinese last weekend, are currently in sixth place with 42 points, seven points ahead of Bologna in eighth (who also have a game in hand), Udinese in ninth, and Juventus in seventh.
Atalanta, who has gone three games without scoring, had another poor week in front of goal.
Atalanta had only ever failed to score in three straight league games once under Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been in charge since 2016. That happened in October 2018.
In the sixth minute, Napoli winger Matteo Politano had a golden chance to give the home team the lead, but Juan Musso of Atalanta blocked his low drive from going inside the right post.
Kvaratskhelia dribbled into the Atalanta box just before the half-hour mark from the left touchline, but Musso blocked his close-range shot with his chest.
Just before halftime, the Atalanta keeper again came to the visitors’ rescue when he blocked Politano’s hard, low drive from the edge of the box and then stopped in-form striker Osimhen’s follow-up attempt.
The Nigeria striker could have given Napoli the lead again three minutes into the second half but the alert Musso dived low to save his stunning overhead kick.
They eventually took the lead in the 60th minute when Osimhen set up Kvaratskhelia, who slalomed inside the box before putting Napoli in front with a powerful strike into the roof of the net for his 11th goal of the season.
Atalanta, who failed to have a shot on target in the first half, could have levelled in the 73rd minute through forward Luis Muriel whose low shot was denied by Napoli keeper Pierluigi Gollini.
Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata had a chance to head home seconds later, but 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.
Atalanta will hope to get back to winning ways when they host 14th-placed Empoli on Friday.
