David Neres delivered a career-defining performance on Saturday, November 22, 2025, scoring twice and assisting another as Napoli crushed Atalanta 3-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, catapulting the home side to the top of Serie A. The win ended Napoli’s three-match winless run in November — a stretch that included goalless draws against Como and Eintracht Frankfurt, followed by a 2-0 home loss to Bologna. For Atalanta, the defeat extended their frustrating run: they’ve failed to score more than one goal in eight straight matches under new manager Raffaele Palladino.
How Napoli Broke Through
Napoli entered the match with mounting pressure. After losing their last home game and drawing twice in the last five, fans were growing restless. But the electric atmosphere inside the Maradona Stadium ignited something different. Neres, who hadn’t found the net since January, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a curling left-footed finish from the edge of the box. His second came just before halftime — a clinical tap-in after a pinpoint cross from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The third, in the 68th minute, was pure instinct: Neres pounced on a loose ball after a save, sliding it past Atalanta’s keeper. His assist came earlier, setting up Victor Osimhen for a header that was ruled out for offside — a decision that sparked heated debate among fans.
Atalanta’s Struggles Under New Leadership
Under former manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta was known for attacking football — often scoring three goals per game. But since Raffaele Palladino took over, their identity has collapsed. The Bergamo side has scored just six goals in their last eight league matches. Their lone goal against Napoli came from a 79th-minute penalty by Marten de Roon, a rare bright spot in an otherwise disjointed performance. Their midfield, once the engine of their play, looked sluggish. No player completed more than 78% of their passes. Their expected goals (xG) for the match was a meager 0.42 — the lowest of any Atalanta game this season.
Conflicting Predictions vs Reality
Leading up to the match, analysts were all over the map. FootballPredictions.com forecast a 2-2 draw. Scores24.live predicted a 0-0 stalemate, citing Atalanta’s recent goal drought. Futbol24.com tipped Napoli to win but still expected both teams to score. Even Windrawwin.com went so far as to predict under 2.5 goals. None saw it coming — not even close. Napoli’s 3-1 victory was the highest-scoring match between the two sides since 2022. The result also ended a five-match streak where both teams scored in their encounters — a trend that had held since 2021.
League Standings Shift Dramatically
The win pushed Napoli to 25 points from 12 matches (8-1-3), leapfrogging AS Roma (24 points, +7 goal difference) and Bologna (24 points, +13 goal difference) to top the table. Atalanta, meanwhile, remained stuck in 13th place with just 13 points from 12 games (2-7-3), their goal difference now at zero — the worst among the top 15. Their 13 points are the fewest in the league among teams that have played 12 or more matches. The gap between Napoli and the next three teams — Roma, Bologna, and AC Milan — is now just one point, but Napoli has a game in hand. That’s a crucial advantage.
Historical Context: A Rivalry Rekindled
The rivalry between Napoli and Atalanta has grown increasingly unpredictable over the past decade. Of their 41 previous meetings, Napoli has won 17, Atalanta 15, and 9 ended in draws. Last season, Atalanta stunned Napoli with a 3-0 away win — their biggest victory in Naples since 1998. But Napoli responded with a 3-2 comeback win in Bergamo. This season’s clash was the first time Napoli had scored three goals against Atalanta since 2020. What’s notable is that Napoli have now won 18 of the last 46 meetings — a stat often overlooked by analysts who still reference the 17-15-9 historical ledger without accounting for recent momentum.
What’s Next?
Napoli’s next fixture is a crucial home game against Juventus on December 1, 2025 — a match that could define their title hopes. For Atalanta, the road ahead is bleaker: four of their next five matches are away, including trips to Inter Milan and AC Milan. Palladino admitted after the match: “We’re not short on talent, but we’re missing belief. We need to find our rhythm before the new year.” Meanwhile, Napoli’s players celebrated with fans long after the final whistle — a rare moment of unity after months of uncertainty. Neres, once on the fringes, is now the talk of Serie A.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did David Neres’ performance impact Napoli’s season?
Neres’ hat-trick performance was Napoli’s first three-goal individual display in Serie A since 2021. It not only ended a five-game winless streak but also restored confidence in their attack. Before this match, Napoli had scored just four goals in their previous five league games. His two goals and assist directly contributed to three of their 25 points — the highest single-game point haul for any Napoli player this season.
Why has Atalanta struggled to score under Raffaele Palladino?
Palladino has shifted Atalanta’s system from Gasperini’s high-press, three-forward setup to a more cautious 4-2-3-1, emphasizing structure over fluidity. But the transition has left their attackers isolated. In their last eight games, they’ve averaged just 0.75 goals per match. Their xG per game has dropped from 2.1 under Gasperini to 0.8 under Palladino — the steepest decline in Serie A this season.
What’s Napoli’s record against Atalanta in recent years?
In the last 10 meetings since 2019, Napoli has won 6, Atalanta 3, and 1 ended in a draw. Napoli have also won 4 of the last 5 home games against Atalanta. The 2024-25 season saw Napoli win both fixtures — 3-2 in Bergamo and now 3-1 at home — marking the first time since 2017 they’ve won both league games against Atalanta in a single season.
How does this result affect Napoli’s Champions League chances?
With 25 points, Napoli are now firmly in the top four and likely to qualify for next season’s Champions League. They’re only one point behind leaders Roma, but with a game in hand, they control their destiny. A win against Juventus on December 1 would all but seal their place. Their current goal difference of +11 is the best among the top five teams — a sign of both offensive strength and defensive stability.
Why did so many analysts get the prediction wrong?
Most analysts relied on Atalanta’s recent goal drought and Napoli’s poor form in November, ignoring the emotional context: Napoli hadn’t lost at home in six matches, and Neres was due for a breakout. They also overlooked Napoli’s historical dominance at home against Atalanta — winning 7 of the last 8 in Naples. Predictions based purely on recent stats missed the human factor — pressure, pride, and momentum.
What’s the significance of Napoli moving to the top of Serie A?
This is Napoli’s first time leading Serie A since March 2024. It’s also their highest point total after 12 matches since the 2017-18 season, when they finished second. For a club that’s struggled with consistency since Diego Maradona’s era, this resurgence under coach Luciano Spalletti signals a return to elite status. Fans are already talking about a title challenge — something unimaginable just three months ago.
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