David Neres didn’t just score twice—he reshaped the Serie A table. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Naples’s Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the Brazilian winger delivered a performance for the ages, netting two goals and assisting another as Napoli crushed Atalanta 3-1. The win lifted Napoli to the top of the league with 25 points from 12 matches (8-1-3), while Atalanta sank deeper into mid-table misery at just 13 points (2-7-3). Nine points separate them now. And it wasn’t just the scoreline—it was the timing, the confidence, the sheer dominance that made this feel like a statement.
A Night of Neres Brilliance
The first goal came at 17 minutes, a clinical finish after a darting run from the left flank. Neres cut inside, shrugged off a sliding challenge from H. Ahanor, and buried it low past P. Koller—Atalanta’s goalkeeper, who had no chance. The second, just before halftime at 38’, was even more spectacular. A long ball from G. Di Lorenzo found Neres in space, and he took one touch to control, another to shoot. The ball curled just inside the far post. The crowd roared. The stadium shook. It wasn’t just a goal—it was a signature moment.
Then came Noa Lang. At 45’, with the half ending, Napoli’s Dutch winger latched onto Neres’ perfectly weighted pass and smashed it past Koller from the edge of the box. 3-0. The home side was in full control. Atalanta, by contrast, looked shell-shocked. Their pressing was sloppy. Their transitions were slow. Their confidence? Gone.
Atalanta’s Struggles Deepen
It wasn’t all one-way traffic, though. Atalanta finally got on the board at 52’ through Gianluca Scamacca, who rose highest to head in a corner from Marten de Roon. But it was too little, too late. The goal did nothing to shift momentum. Napoli’s midfield—led by S. McTominay—had already locked down the center. The visitors rarely threatened after that.
Even in stoppage time, Atalanta’s desperation showed. Nicola Zalewski fired a wild right-footed shot at 90’+4’, wide and high, the last gasp of a team that’s now lost seven of their last twelve games. Their record reads like a cautionary tale: 2 wins, 7 losses, 3 draws. They sit 10th—below even Cremonese and Torino, both with 14 points. And they’re only one point ahead of Cagliari. This isn’t just a bad run. It’s a crisis.
Why This Matters Beyond the Table
Napoli’s rise isn’t just about points. It’s about identity. Last season’s champions, they’ve spent most of 2025-26 playing catch-up. Injuries. Inconsistency. A mid-season managerial shuffle. But this win? It feels like the turning point. Neres, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer, has gone from fringe player to talisman. His two goals and assist weren’t just stats—they were proof of a team rediscovering its rhythm.
Meanwhile, Atalanta’s problems run deeper than form. Their defensive structure is fractured. Their midfield lacks bite. Their coach, Pierpaolo Bisoli, has been under fire since October. Fans are openly questioning whether he’s the right man to lead them through a relegation battle. And with the winter transfer window looming, rumors are swirling that key players could be on their way out.
What’s Next?
Napoli next face Juventus at home on December 1st—a match that could either cement their title credentials or expose lingering vulnerabilities. If they win, they’ll be six points clear at the top. If they draw? The pressure returns.
Atalanta? They travel to Cagliari on December 2nd. A win there is non-negotiable. A loss? The whispers about Bisoli becoming a scapegoat will turn into shouts. Their next three fixtures—Cagliari, Fiorentina, Lazio—are brutal. They need points. Now.
The Bigger Picture
This match wasn’t just about two teams. It was about the shifting balance of power in Serie A. Inter Milan and AC Milan have been inconsistent. Roma’s struggling. Napoli? They’re back. And with Neres in peak form, and R. Højlund and Noa Lang clicking in attack, they look like genuine contenders again.
Atalanta, meanwhile, are a team in transition. Their 2023-24 Europa League run feels like a lifetime ago. The question now isn’t whether they can challenge for Europe—it’s whether they’ll even avoid the drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did David Neres’ performance compare to his previous seasons?
Neres’ two-goal, one-assist night was his best in Serie A since joining Napoli in 2024. He’d managed just three goals and one assist in his first 10 league matches this season. This performance—his first multi-goal game in Italy—marks a clear upward trend, suggesting he’s finally adapting to the pace and physicality of Serie A after early struggles.
Why is Atalanta struggling defensively despite their attacking pedigree?
Atalanta’s traditional high-pressing, attacking style has backfired this season due to injuries in central defense and a lack of midfield cover. Their average of 2.1 goals conceded per game is their worst since 2018. Key defender Kossounou has been inconsistent, and the absence of injured captain Robin Gosens has left gaps in transition. Without balance, their offense can’t compensate.
What’s Napoli’s historical record against Atalanta at home?
Napoli have won 11 of their last 15 home matches against Atalanta in Serie A, scoring 31 goals and conceding just 10. Their last loss at the Maradona Stadium to Atalanta was in 2019. This 3-1 result continues a long-standing home advantage, with Napoli often using the electric atmosphere of the stadium to intimidate visitors.
Could Napoli challenge for the title this season?
Absolutely. With 25 points and only three losses, Napoli are now tied with Inter Milan for the fewest defeats in the league. Their attack is firing—Neres, Lang, and Højlund have combined for 14 goals this season. If their defense holds up—especially with G. Di Lorenzo back to full fitness—they’re more than capable of pushing Juventus and Inter all the way.
What’s the significance of Napoli being top after being last season’s champions?
It’s rare for defending champions to fall out of the top four early, then claw back to the summit. Napoli’s 2023-24 title was their first in 33 years. This resurgence proves they’re not a flash in the pan. It also signals a shift in Italian football: the old guard (Juventus, Milan) is vulnerable, and Napoli, under manager Luciano Spalletti, are building a sustainable contender.
Did weather or crowd conditions impact the match?
While official reports didn’t detail weather, eyewitness accounts and video footage show clear skies and mild temperatures—around 14°C—with a humid breeze off the Bay of Naples. The crowd, estimated at over 50,000, was deafening, especially after Neres’ first goal. The noise seemed to rattle Atalanta’s players, particularly in the first half, when they lost possession in dangerous areas.
