Neres Shines with Double as Napoli Cruise Past Atalanta in 3-1 Victory
Napoli, Italy — Napoli delivered a masterclass performance in front of their passionate home supporters, securing an impressive 3-1 victory over Atalanta at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Saturday. The hosts showcased their quality with a dominant first-half display, highlighted by a brilliant David Neres double that set the tone for the evening.
The home side wasted little time asserting their authority, breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute when Neres found the bottom left corner with a precise left-footed finish. Rasmus Højlund provided the assist, picking out his teammate in the center of the box with a well-weighted pass that Neres converted with composure. The goal electrified the Napoli faithful, who sensed their team was hitting peak form.
Napoli continued to build momentum and doubled their advantage in the 38th minute through the same source. Neres completed his brace with another clinical left-footed strike to the bottom right corner, this time benefiting from Scott McTominay's assist. The Brazilian winger's movement and finishing ability proved too much for Atalanta's defense to handle, as he celebrated enthusiastically with teammates and fans alike.
The hosts weren't finished yet, adding a third goal just before the halftime whistle. Noa Lang extended Napoli's lead in the 45th minute with a header from very close range, connecting perfectly with Giovanni Di Lorenzo's inviting cross. The stadium erupted as Napoli headed into the break with a commanding three-goal cushion, rewarding their supporters with a display of attacking brilliance.
Atalanta showed character after the interval and managed to pull one back in the 52nd minute. Substitute Gianluca Scamacca, who had entered the match at halftime, made an immediate impact with a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. Raoul Bellanova provided the assist with an excellent cross, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope. However, despite the goal, Atalanta struggled to build sustained pressure as Napoli managed the game effectively.
The match featured increasing intensity in the second half, with three yellow cards issued between the 59th and 75th minutes. Marten de Roon, Davide Zappacosta, and Juan Jesus all entered the referee's book as both teams contested every challenge. Multiple substitutions from both sides disrupted the flow somewhat, but Napoli maintained their composure to secure all three points. The victory delighted the home crowd, who celebrated enthusiastically as their team continued their impressive form in the 2025 campaign.