Nikola Kristovic scores Atalanta's second goal against Lecce in the Italian football league tournament (Serie A) on April, 6, 2026. Pic taken from Atalanta B.C. official social media
Milan, Italy: Atalanta are firmly in contention for next season's Champions League after beating lowly Lecce 3-0 Monday April 6, 2026, and creeping to within five points of Serie A's top four.
Goals from Giorgio Scalvini, Lecce old boy Nikola Krstovic and Giacomo Raspadori gave seventh-placed Atalanta a straightforward win at the Stadio Via del mare. Raffaelle Palladino's side took advantage of Como's goalless draw at Udinese in Monday's early fixture and the 5-2 hammering dished out to Roma by league leaders Inter Milan last night.
Roma, in sixth and the Conference League spot, and fifth-placed Juventus lead Atalanta by a single point, with Juve hosting Genoa later on Monday.
And with Atalanta welcoming Juve on Saturday -- Como face Inter by the lake on Sunday -- and then travelling to Roma the following weekend, the Bergamo club are back in the Champions League mix.
Lecce were booed off by disgruntled fans after a defeat which left their team back in the relegation zone, level on 27 points with Cremonese who sit just outside the bottom three thanks to their superior head-to-head record.