Atalanta 1 - 0 Napoli: Napoli rocked by Andrea Petagna strike as unbeaten run grinds to a halt

Posted Sunday, October 02, 2016 by PA

Andrea Petagna ended Napoli's unbeaten start to the Serie A season by firing Atalanta to a 1-0 win.

Four wins and two draws from six games had kept the southerners within touching distance of leaders Juventus, but they are now four points off the pace after losing at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.

Former AC Milan striker Petagna needed only nine minutes to strike the blow to which Napoli would fail to respond. Next up for Maurizio Sarri's men is a tough meeting with high-flying Roma in Naples.

Napoli have dominated all-comers at their own stadium, even beating Benfica there in the Champions League in the week leading up to this game, but away from home they have been more timid.

That showed in the opening exchanges in Bergamo, and it was not long before Petagna managed to break through a confused defence to slot the ball past an isolated Jose Reina.

Napoli tried to respond but it was Atalanta who dominated the half, with Reina pushing a Remo Freuler shot away before Boukary Drame clattered the crossbar with a powerful drive.

They remained in trouble heading into the break and Petagna might have doubled up with a shot that fizzed just past a post.

Napoli were brighter, or more focused at least, when play resumed and in the 65th minute Marek Hamsik came close to equalising when he smashed Arkadiusz Milik's pass just wide.

But Atalanta were simply the better side and almost grabbed goal number two in the last five minutes.

Alberto Grassi, on loan from Napoli, tried to deal his parent club further damage by dribbling for 60 metres, with Piotr Zielinski in hot pursuit, before seeing his attempt blocked by Reina.