Atalanta put on a dominant display against Juventus in Serie A on Sunday, sealing an emphatic 4-0 victory to keep their title ambitions alive.
Atalanta hammered Juventus 4-0 in Turin to stay within three points of Inter and snap the hosts’ five-game winning streak. It was just the second defeat of the season for Thiago Motta’s side.
Mateo Retegui notched his league-leading 22nd goal of the season from the penalty spot after a handball in the first half and Marten de Roon added a second right after the break for Atalanta.
Davide Zappacosta steered in a third for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side before Ademola Lookman’s deflected strike completed a thumping victory. Fourth-placed Juventus are now nine points adrift of Inter and could be overtaken by Lazio, who host Udinese on Monday.
“It was an unimaginable result for many, but it was the perfect performance from us,” Gasperini told DAZN, suggesting an unlikely tilt at the Scudetto for the traditionally small, provincial club was not beyond them.
“People need to dream. We must never stop them from dreaming. We may say it’s impossible, but if you believe enough, things can become possible.”
Roma continued their resurgence under Claudio Ranieri as Matias Soule’s goal after only 22 seconds was enough to secure a 1-0 win at Empoli for their fifth successive league victory.
The 73-year-old Ranieri has brought stability to a club that sacked Daniele De Rossi in September and then moved on from his successor Ivan Juric less than two months later.
Roma are unbeaten in 12 games in Serie A since mid-December, rising from just above the relegation places into contention for Europe next season. They are four points behind Bologna in sixth, which offers a spot in the UEFA Conference League.