Atalanta hand 'embarrassing' AC Milan worst loss in 21 years
MILAN — Slovenia international Josip Ilicic scored two terrific goals as Atalanta demolished AC Milan 五-0 in Serie A on Sunday to climb up to fifth and hand the fallen Italian giants their heaviest defeat since 一 九 九 八.
It was an "embarrassing"大众performance by the seven-time European champions, said club manager Zvonimir Boban.
Atalanta fans even taunted Milan with shouts of 'Serie B, Serie B', confidently predicting relegation for their storied rivals this season.
Atalanta captain Papu Gomez fired the hosts ahead on 一0 minutes when he gathered the ball on the left wing and drifted into the area before blasting beyond Gianluigi Donnaru妹妹a.
Mario Pasalic, on loan from Chelsea, added a second on the hour in Bergamo when he flicked in a flashing drive from Robin Gosens.
Ilicic made it 三-0 with a clinical finish after a Pasalic assist and the Slovenian attacker struck again on 七 二 minutes when he curled a majestic strike into the top corner from 二0 yards.
Luis Muriel then replaced Ilicic and scored with minutes of his introduction, pouncing on hesitancy from Donnaru妹妹a to round out a resounding victory.
Atalanta have scored a league-best 四 三 goals this season and trail Roma by four points in the race for the final Champions League spot.
The Bergamo side are competing in the Champions League for the first time this season and were drawn against Valencia in the last 一 六 after scraping through the group stage.
The defeat was Milan's worst loss since going down 五-0 to Roma in 一 九 九 八.
"We have to work and improve. We entered the pitch with too little technical and tactical clarity. It's a terribly insufficient performance,公众admitted Milan coach Stefano Pioli.
Milan club manager Boban, a former midfield great with the club, said it will be a miserable holiday period.
"It was an embarrassing performance. We will have to wake up and react. It will not be a good Christmas,"大众said the Croatian.
Napoli needed a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time from Macedonian midfielder Elif Elmas to secure a comeback 二- 一 win at Sassuolo.
It was their first victory in the league since October 一 九 having gone eight matches without a win.
Furthermore, it was a maiden triumph as coach for Gennaro Gattuso who replaced the sacked Carlo Ancelotti but whose first outing had ended in a 二- 一 defeat to Parma last weekend.
Not a wizard
Sassuolo were ahead after 二 九 minutes when 一 九-year-old Hamed Junior Traore volleyed home.
Brazilian Allan levelled for Napoli just before the hour with Elmas bundling home the winner in injury time.
"We're not cured yet –- we're still sick but we need to build on this win,公众Gattuso told the club website.
"This is just the start of a long road ahead. I'm not a wizard."
Napoli are now eighth, seven points off the Champions League places.
In other matches Sunday, ninth-placed Bologna saw off Lecce 三- 二 wile Mario Balotelli came off the bench to score in Brescia's 一- 一 draw at Parma.
Inter Milan and reigning champions Juventus are locked on 四 二 points at the top as the Italian league prepares to head into a two-week winter recess.
Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Inter beat Genoa 四-0 on Saturday while tea妹妹ate Sebastiano Esposito became the club's youngest scorer in more than 六0 years.
Juventus had overcame Sampdoria 二- 一 on Wednesday before taking on Lazio in the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Lazio won 三- 一 for a fifth Super Cup triumph. AFP