Walter Mazzarri made a profitable return as Napoli coach on Saturday with the champions’ hard-fought 2-1 victory at Atalanta, whereas AC Milan held on to 3rd in Serie A after beating Fiorentina 1-0. Eljif Elmas netted the decisive objective 11 minutes from the top on the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s headed opener for the away aspect on the stroke of half-time was levelled by an analogous strike from Ademola Lookman. North Macedonia midfielder Elmas rolled house the winner from substitute Victor Osimhen’s go following Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi’s poor clearance, ensuring that Napoli stayed fourth.

Mazzarri’s workforce are nonetheless seven factors behind leaders Inter Milan who journey to Turin on Sunday for the weekend’s huge match at second-placed Juventus.

“The team dominated all last season, playing some of the best football in Europe with players who were not used to being in that position,” Mazzarri instructed DAZN.

“There was always going to be some drop-off after that.”

Mazzarri returned to Napoli final week after Rudi Garcia was sacked, reprising a task he left simply over a decade in the past after being the person to take southern Italy’s greatest membership again to the higher echelons of Italian soccer.

The 62-year-old guided Napoli to the 2012 Italian Cup, beating undefeated league champions Juventus within the remaining to win the membership’s first main trophy in over twenty years, and to second in Serie A one 12 months later earlier than leaving for Inter Milan.

And he took three factors from Saturday’s even conflict, his workforce recovering from Lookman’s 53rd-minute equaliser and being saved from going behind within the 68th minute when Mario Pasalic’s end was dominated out for Teun Koopmeiners straying offside.

Mazzarri may also be boosted by Osimhen recovering from his hamstring damage in time for Wednesday’s Champions League journey to Real Madrid.

Napoli are second in Group C, 5 factors behind leaders Madrid and 4 forward of third-placed Braga, who tackle Union Berlin, with two video games remaining.

“I didn’t need to be in charge of Napoli to know that Osimhen is a great striker, I’d already seen him play,” mentioned Mazzarri.

“I hope he gets back to his best form back as soon as he can.”

Hernandez sinks Fiorentina

Napoli had been briefly third however Milan moved again above their rivals because of Theo Hernandez‘s penalty in a win by which 15-year-old Francesco Camarda grew to become the youngest ever participant to play in Serie A.

France full-back Hernandez calmly slotted house from the spot in first-half stoppage time after being introduced down by Fabiano Parisi.

That was the spotlight of an underwhelming efficiency from Milan, who had been with out suspended Olivier Giroud, Noah Okafor, star man Rafael Leao and others for his or her first win in 5 league matches.

Portugal winger Leao may also miss Tuesday’s go to of Borussia Dortmund which could possibly be essential to Milan’s Champions League hopes.

A number of absences led to teen attacker Camarda being known as up from Milan’s youth ranks and introduced on with seven minutes remaining, changing Luka Jovic who moments earlier than missed a golden probability to internet his first objective for the membership.

And deep in stoppage time Mike Maignan saved the win with a shocking cease to disclaim Rolando Mandragora simply because the Italian seemed sure to equalise from inches out.

“We can get back to playing beautiful football once we start to get more consistent results again,” coach Stefano Pioli instructed Sky.

“There are times where you have to do things this way.”

Maurizio Sarri instructed he might stop Lazio after his workforce fell 2-1 on the division’s backside workforce Salernitana, dropping because of a surprise strike from previous boy Antonio Candreva.

“If it turns out that I’m the problem I’ll take responsibility and I’ll tell the owner to make a change,” Sarri instructed reporters.

Lazio are tenth on 17 factors following their sixth defeat of what has been a troublesome league season after ending second final time period.

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