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[ad_1] MILAN: Walter Mazzarri made a winning return as Napoli coach on Saturday with the champions' hard-fought 2-1 victory at Atalanta, while AC Milan held on to third in Serie A after beating Fiorentina 1-0. Eljif Elmas netted the decisive goal 11 minutes from the end at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's headed opener for the away side on the stroke of half-time was levelled by a similar strike from Ademola Lookman. North Macedonia midfielder Elmas rolled home the winner from substitute Victor Osimhen's pass following Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi's poor clearance, making sure that Napoli stayed fourth. Mazzarri's team are still seven points behind leaders Inter Milan who travel to Turin on Sunday for the weekend's big match at second-placed Juventus. "The team dominated all last season, playing some of the best football in Europe with players who were not used to being in that position," Mazzarri told D...

[ad_1] MILAN: Belgian Cyril Ngonge scored twice and Davide Faraoni was sent off as Verona beat Spezia 3-1 in the Serie A relegation play-off on Sunday. Attacker Ngonge's double came in a 12-minute spell during the first half before Faraoni, who had opened the scoring, was sent off with more than 20 minutes to play as the 1985 champions stayed in the top-flight. Wales midfielder Ethan Ampadu, on loan from Chelsea, had equalised for Spezia but it failed to stop his outfit from returning to Serie B after two seasons in the first division. Spezia , who finished the season in 17th, and Verona, a spot lower, were only separated by goal difference at the end of the season, meaning a play-off was needed to decide who would be sent down to the second tier. Midfielder Faraoni gave Verona the best start possible, opening the scoring on five minutes before Ampadu's response on the quarter of an hour mark. Ngonge's first goal came after 26 minutes and his second after 38 m...