MILAN (AP) – Luis Muriel scored two goals to get Atalanta back on track in Serie A with a 2–1 win over newly promoted Crotone on Saturday.
Muriel scored both goals in the first half before Simy scored one for the hosts five minutes from halftime.
Atalanta climbed to the spot at the moment, one point below the first AC Milan leader to travel to Udinese on Sunday.
Inter can move to Milan if it expires to Parma later. Bologna played later, against Cagliari.
Crotone remained in the back of the league with one point, a 1–1 draw against Juventus.
Atalanta entered the game after consecutive Serie A defeats, but reinforced his return to the Champions League with Ajax, while hoping to bring his confidence to life before Tuesday’s clash with Liverpool.
Muriel had two chances before giving Atalanta the lead in the 26th minute, picking up a Ruslan Malinovskiy ball with his back to the target and turning to pierce it in the back corner.
The Colombian striker forced Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz to perform a smart tackle before bending his general at 38 after being enabled via Remo Freuler.
Crotone retired only two minutes later when Simy beat Marco Sportiello from a narrow angle.
Duvon Zapata of Atalanta, who has scored 4 goals in his last three games, had two opportunities behind, but sent them close.
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