Napoli pulling away from chasing pack after beating Atalanta

Napoli's aspirations of a first league crown since the days of Diego Maradona look more serious with each passing week and getting past Atalanta side in Bergamo further strengthened their Scudetto credentials.

Napoli have won nine league fixtures on the bounce and pulled further away from the chasing pack after first-half strikes from the league leading scorer Victor Osimhen and Eljif Elmas cancelled out Ademola Lookman's 19th-minute penalty for the hosts.

After previously being coy about his team's title ambitions Luciano Spalletti hinted he too was aiming high after a win obtained without injured wing wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and starting centre-back Amir Rrahmani.

"It was a difficult match, everyone said winning here would be three huge points, but every win is important with what we want to achieve," Spalletti told DAZN.

Spalletti's side need just a point to ensure they hold top spot after the final Serie A fixtures of 2022 next weekend, with a midweek round also coming ahead of the World Cup which starts in a fortnight.

Saturday's win was hard-fought as Atalanta, who are eight points back in third, struck the bar through Lookman and created enough opportunities to take a point.

"We didn't really deserve to lose and were a bit unlucky but we've got some pride and confidence out of this match," said Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

Cremonese are second from bottom and still winless after snatching a late 2-2 draw at Salernitana, Daniel Ciofani netting on the rebound from his own missed penalty in the 89th minute to get a point.