Mertens inspires Napoli victory
Milan, Aug. 28: Piotr Zielinski hit a second-half screamer as Dries Mertens inspired Napoli to a 31 win over Atalanta on Sunday, while newcomers SPAL claimed their first goals and first win since coming up to Serie A.
But after Bryan Cristante’s header from an Alejandro Gomez corner stunned the San Paolo into silence on 15 minutes, it took until Zielinki’s superb 56th-minute strike from outside the area for Napoli’s confidence to return.
Napoli were transformed, with Allan chipping up a pass for Lorenzo Insigne to nod across the face of goal where Mertens volleyed home for Napoli’s second.
That goal took the wind out of Atalanta’s sails and Napoli secured the points with a fine passing move that saw Mertens set up Marko Rog with a deft touch to turn in at the far post from 10 yards.
The win saw Napoli join Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Sampdoria in amassing a maximum six points from two matches this season.
Spanish forward Suso struck with an assist to teenager Patrick Cutrone and a superb free-kick to hand AC Milan a 2-1 win over Cagliari as Vincenzo Montella’s men made it two from two.
Sampdoria stunned Fiorentina 2-1 in Florence with Fabio Quagliarella’s 35th-minute penalty ultimately proving the difference.
Monaco cream rivals Marseille Paris: Kylian Mbappe was left on the bench as Radamel Falcao scored twice in Monaco’s 6-1 trouncing of Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Four of the goals came in the first half at the Stade Louis II, with captain Falcao’s brace falling in between strikes from Kamil Glik and Adama Diakhaby. Djibril Sidibe and Fabinho, with a penalty, completed the rout after the break.
The reigning champions have won four out of four games to start the season and sit second on goal difference behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain, the only other team with a perfect record at the end of August.