Atalanta defeats struggling Salernitana to move up into the top seven of Serie A
For the first time since October, Atalanta won back-to-back Serie A games, overcoming rock-bottom Salernitana 4-1 thanks to an incredible comeback in the second half. This put them within one point of the European spots.
After suffering a crushing 8-2 loss in the same matchup the previous season, Filippo Inzaghi's team faced an uphill task to snap a miserable 16-match losing streak away from home.
The visitors got off to a strong start despite their previous setbacks, and their optimistic approach paid off as youthful central defender Lorenzo Pirola headed them ahead early on.
Veteran Antonio Candreva swung in an attractive free-kick that caught the Nerazzurri off guard and gave Pirola ample opportunity to send his header beyond Marco Carnesecchi.
Gian Piero Gasperini has recently brought back Colombian striker Luis Muriel after he scored his first league goal since May in a victory over AC Milan.
However, he was devoid of any real service during a lacklustre first half for the home side, with counterpart Ademola Lookman coming closest to a leveller forcing Benoit Costil into a smart save with his feet.
Gasperini clearly found the right words in the dressing room at the break, with Muriel lashing home on the volley moments after the restart as he patrolled the edge of the box following a corner.
The turnaround was then complete just five minutes later, this time through Mario Pasalic who rounded off a fine passing move finishing coolly through Lassana Coulibaly’s legs and into the bottom corner.
Despite their impressive comeback, the hosts were lucky to cling onto their slender lead thanks to a wonderful Carnesecchi save to deny Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi before Boulaye Dia rattled the outside of the post with a fierce effort.
But, Salernitana's late comeback was cruelly cut short when Aleksei Miranchuk and Charles De Ketelaere put the game beyond question, sending the Granata to the bottom of the league, five points from safety.
