Seven-goal Atalanta run riot to close in on Juventus
Luis Muriel hit a hat-trick as Atalanta put their midweek Champions League humiliation behind them with a crushing 7-1 win over 10-man Udinese on Sunday that moved them to within three points of Serie A leaders Juventus.
Gian Piero Gasperini's side consolidated third place with 20 points from nine games, two adrift of second-placed Inter Milan and three ahead of Napoli, who were held 1-1 at lowly SPAL.
Defending champions Juve stay top despite drawing 1-1 at Lecce on Saturday thanks to Antonio Conte's Inter also collecting just a point with their 2-2 draw with Parma.
Gasperini said his side, top scorers with a Serie A-record 28 goals after nine games, had felt bitterness after their 5-1 humbling at Manchester City, their third Champions League defeat in as many games.
"We're trying to use the Champions League to gain experience and it helps us become better in Serie A," said Gasperini.
"We make mistakes, but we have also been scoring regularly for 18 months now and it really helps us to fight back from difficult situations, as when we went behind today."
After falling behind after 12 minutes following Stefano Okaka's first away goal for Udinese this season, the Bergamo side got...