(Football news) Goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Amir Rrahmani helped runaway leaders Napoli to a 2-0 victory over sixth-placed Atalanta in Serie A on Saturday. Atalanta winless streak to four games as Napoli had suffered only their second league defeat last week to Lazio, as they extended their lead at the top of the table to 18 points after second-placed Inter who are on 50 points, fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to Spezia on Friday.

Atalanta were held to a goalless draw by Udinese last weekend but they still remained sixth in the standings with 42 points as they are seven points above seventh-placed Juventus and Bologna in eighth but both teams have a game in hand. It was another bad day in front of goal for Atalanta as they haven’t scored in any of their last three games. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, since 2016, Atalanta previously only once failed to score in three successive league games and that was in October 2018.

Napoli started off the match on the front foot as winger Matteo Politano had a good chance to put the hosts ahead in the sixth minute but his shot was saved by Atalanta keeper Juan Musso. At the half hour mark, Kvaratskhelia dribbled his way into the box from the left touchline but Musso again blocked the shot with his chest. The Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen could have given Napoli the lead again three minutes into the second half but again Atalanta’s man of the match, Musso dived low to save his stunning bicycle kick.

Napoli finally took the lead in the 60th minute when Victor Osimhen turned provider and set up Kvaratskhelia, who slammed the ball in the goal with a powerful strike into the roof of the net for his 11th goal of the season. Atalanta failed to even register a shot on target in the first half, but could have levelled in the 73rd minute when forward Luis Muriel’s low shot was denied by Napoli second choice keeper Pierluigi Gollini.

Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata had a golden opportunity to head home seconds later, but Gollini again pulled off another great save. Rrahmani then went on to double Napoli’s lead in the 77th minute with a towering header following a corner. Napoli now host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Wednesday as they travel to Torino in Serie A on March 19. Atalanta on the other hand will hope to get back to winning ways when they host 14th-placed Empoli on Friday.

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