Mertens keeps Napoli top of Serie A, Lazio hit five

Napoli survived a tough test at Atalanta Sunday as Dries Mertens' second-half goal secured a 1-0 win that kept them top of Serie A. Lazio scored five goals for the second league game in a row as they hammered Chievo 5-1 despite an injury to Serie A top-scorer Ciro Immobile while veteran Fabio Quagliarella grabbed a hat-trick in Sampdoria's 3-1 win over Fiorentina. Inter Milan and AS Roma extended winless runs as they drew 1-1 at the San Siro, with Matias Vecino heading a late equaliser for the host, and Franck Kessie scored twice to give AC Milan a 2-1 win in windy condition at Cagliari. Napoli, who avenged their home Coppa Italia defeat by Atalanta earlier this month, lead with 54 points from 21 games, four clear of Juventus who host Genoa Monday with Lazio and Inter level on 43 points. Roma are fifth with 40. Mertens ran on to a through ball by Jose Callejon and let the ball bounce several times before scoring with a dipping half-volley over goalkeeper Etrit Berisha in the 65th minute. The Belgian, who had not scored in his last nine league games, took his tally for the season to 11 as his side extended their unbeaten away record in the league to 24 games.

Dries Mertens scores his first Serie A goal since 29 October as Napoli triumph 1-0 at fellow #UEL contenders Atalanta. ?⚽️ pic.twitter.com/YuXQOUR90q

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 21, 2018

Lazio went ahead through Luis Alberto in the 23rd minute, were pegged back by Manuel Pucciarelli's goal two minutes later and regained the lead through Sergej Milinkovic-Savic just after the half hour. Immobile, who has scored 20 league goals this season, limped off shortly afterwards. Chievo were awarded a penalty in first-half stoppage time for a foul by Senad Lulic on Mariusz Stepinksi but the referee changed his mind after consulting the video replay system. Milinkovic-Savic scored the third with a brilliant volley in the 68th minute before Bastos and Nani added two more in the final 10 minutes to floor the Flying Donkeys. Quagliarella opened his account against Fiorentina after half an hour, fired home the second after 60 minutes and completed his hat-trick with a close-range effort as Sampdoria moved up to sixth on 33 points. Carlos Sanchez scored a consolation for the visitor.

Lazio rack up five goals for the second time in two Serie A games. ??#UEL pic.twitter.com/8sA910nSUD

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 21, 2018

The match at San Siro featured two teams who began the campaign brightly but have faded badly. Stephan El Shaarawy put Roma ahead after 31 minutes, latching on to a long clearance by goalkeeper Alisson to lift the ball over Samir Handanovic. Alisson twice denied Mauro Icardi with brilliant saves in the second half but was powerless when Vecino rose between two defenders to head in Marcelo Brozovic's cross after 86 minutes. Inter extended their winless league run to six matches and Roma to four. Milan, seventh with 31 points, fell behind after eight minutes at Cagliari when Nicolo Barella, later sent off for a second bookable offence, scored with a shot which bounced awkwardly in front of Gianluigi Donnarruma. Kessie levelled from a penalty in the 35th minute and the Ivorian struck again six minutes later. Milan defender Ricardo Rodriguez was sent off in the 81st minute for two yellow cards, both for fouls on Paolo Farago.

13 - Fabio Quagliarella has netted 13 goals in the current Serie A season, equaling his goals record in a single Serie A season (2014/15, 2008/09, 2006/07). Predator. #SampdoriaFiorentina

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 21, 2018

Crotone won the relegation battle at Verona 3-0 and Bologna beat bottom club Benevento by the same score. Udinese were held 1-1 at home by SPAL and Torino's visit to Sassuolo ended with the same scoreline.RESULTSInter 1 (Vecino 86) Roma 1 (El Shaarawy 31)Cagliari 1 (Barella 8) Milan 2 (Kessie 36-P, 42)Bologna 3 (Destro 35, De Maio 75, Dzemaili 88) Benevento 0Lazio 5 (Alberto 23, Milinkovic-Savic 32, 68, Bastos 83, Nani 86) Chievo 1 (Pucciarelli 25)Sampdoria 3 (Quagliarella 30, 60, 68) Fiorentina 1 (Sanchez 80)Sassuolo 1 (Berardi 54) Torino 1 (Obi 26)Udinese 1 (Samir 11) SPAL 1 (Floccari 49)Verona 0 Crotone 3 (Barberis 3, Stoian 54, Ricci 67)Atalanta 0 Napoli 1 (Mertens 65)  MONDAY'S MATCHJuventus v Genoa POINTS TABLETeams P W D L GD PtsNapoli 21 17 3 1 32 54Juventus 20 16 2 2 34 50Lazio 20 13 4 3 28 43Inter 21 12 7 2 20 43Roma 20 12 4 4 16 40Sampdoria 20 10 3 7 9 33