Napoli draws 2-2 against Atalanta in Serie A

MILAN (AP) — Atalanta rallied to draw 2-2 at Napoli on Wednesday in a entertaining Serie A match between two of the league’s most attack-minded sides.

Nikola Maksimovic and Arkadiusz Milik scored for Napoli, either side of Remo Freuler’s equalizer.

But Josip Ilicic leveled for Atalanta four minutes from time, with Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti and an assistant then sent to the stands for their protests as they felt there should have been a penalty moments earlier.

Napoli remained three points behind third-place Atalanta. Juventus can leapfrog leader Inter Milan if it beats Genoa later.

Atalanta is Serie’s highest-scoring team, but it was Napoli that took the lead in the 16th minute when Lorenzo Insigne picked out Jose Callejon on the right flank and he crossed for Maksimovic to head home.

The Serbia defender celebrated by holding up the jersey of injured teammate Kevin Malcuit, who underwent surgery on his knee on Wednesday morning and is expected to be out for around six months.

Napoli had chances to double its lead, notably when an unmarked Milik somehow headed onto the post from point-blank range.

And it was made to pay for that as it gifted Atalanta the equalizer four minutes from halftime following a howler from Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret, who allowed Freuler’s effort to go between his legs.

Milik curled a free kick onto the crossbar in the 68th but finally got on the scoresheet three minutes later. Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon gave away the ball away to Fabian Ruiz and he put a ball over the top for Milik to race onto and round the goalkeeper before depositing into an empty net.

Napoli’s defending again let it down as Ilicic was left in yards of space to fire home Rafael Toloi’s through ball. The home side was incensed as moments earlier Fernando Llorente had appeared to be elbowed over by Simon Kjær in the area.