|
Atalanta forward German Denis took advantage of shocking defending by Napoli to score twice in a 3-0 win over Rafael Benitez’s exasperatingly inconsistent team yesterday. |
His fellow Argentine Maxi Moralez completed the scoring after another slip-up by third-placed Napoli, who continued their habit of dropping points against mid-table opposition.
Second-placed AS Roma’s match at home to Parma was called off after only eight minutes when incessant heavy rain left the pitch waterlogged, giving Juventus a chance to extend their six-point lead at the top at home to Inter Milan in the late match.
Lazio won 2-0 at Chievo in their first match without Brazilian midfielder Hernanes, who joined Inter in the transfer window, and bottom club Catania came from behind three times to hold Livorno 3-3 after a six-goal second half. Swiss midfielder Innocent Emeghara scored twice and Paulinho converted a penalty for Livorno while Argentine trio Gonzalo Bergessio, Pablo Barrientos and Sergio Almiron replied for the Sicilians in a match featuring two teams in the bottom three. Sassuolo, also in the drop zone, gave new coach Alberto Malesani a losing start going down 2-1 to Hellas Verona.
Benitez surprisingly started with forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Marek Hamsik on the bench but it backfired in a dismal first half in Bergamo, where home fans entertained themselves by repeatedly letting off smoke bombs behind the goal. Atalanta went ahead two minutes after halftime when Blerim Dzemail gave the ball away and Denis scored with a low, powerful shot which was badly misjudged by Pepe Reina.
Milan unbeaten after Torino draw
Clarence Seedorf maintained his unbeaten start as AC Milan coach with an entertaining 1-1 draw against a flamboyant Torino at the San Siro on Saturday. Milan came back from a poor start to draw level through Adil Rami’s deflected long-range strike five minutes into the second period, but failed to snatch a winner to stay in ninth place on 29 points, four behind Inter Milan in fifth.