Luis Muriel hit a hat-trick as Atalanta put their midweek Champions League humiliation behind them with a crushing 7-1 win over 10-man Udinese on Sunday that moved them to within three points of Serie A leaders Juventus.
Gian Piero Gasperini's side consolidated third place with 20 points from nine games, two adrift of second-placed Inter Milan and three ahead of Napoli, who were held 1-1 at lowly SPAL.
Defending champions Juve stay top despite drawing 1-1 at Lecce on Saturday thanks to Antonio Conte's Inter also collecting just a point with their 2-2 draw with Parma.
Roma moved up to fifth, one point behind Napoli, with Edin Dzeko scoring and setting up Nicolo Zaniolo for the winner in a 2-1 victory that plunged AC Milan further into crisis.
City rivals Lazio are just behind Roma in sixth after Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile snatched a 2-1 win at Fiorentina.
Gasperini said his side, top scorers with a Serie A-record 28 goals after nine games, had felt bitterness after their 5-1 humbling at Manchester City, their third Champions League defeat in as many games.
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"We're trying to use the Champions League to gain experience and it helps us become better in Serie A, to fight back from difficult situations, like when we went behind today," said Gasperini.
"We're not deluding ourselves. It is very early days, only nine rounds," he continued.
"The Scudetto is Juventus's to lose, then there are Inter and Napoli as well as other teams that have important possibilities."
- Napoli stalled -
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