Lazar Samardzic played the role of super sub as his 81st-minute winner helped Atalanta to a 2-1 comeback victory over Scudetto holders Napoli on Sunday. 

Mario Pasalic's 50th Serie A goal had cancelled out Sam Beukema's opener and Samardzic sealed all three points to extend Atalanta's unbeaten league run to nine games. 

Napoli's fast start at New Balance Arena was rewarded in the 18th minute when Beukema rose highest to powerfully head Miguel Gutierrez's inviting free-kick into the net.

Atalanta struggled to create any chances of note until five minutes before half-time when Kamaldeen Sulemana found space, but his shot was held by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. 

The visitors thought they were awarded a penalty a minute later when Rasmus Hojlund went over under Isak Hien's challenge, only for referee Daniele Chiffi to reverse his original decision following a pitchside VAR review. 

Gutierrez then had a goal ruled out within a minute of the restart after Hojlund, who crossed for the Spaniard to score, had fouled Hein in the build-up, with Atalanta making the most of that reprieve soon after. 

Nicola Zalewski's corner was brilliantly flicked on by Pasalic to restore parity just after the hour, but there was to be one more twist in the tale for Raffaele Palladino's men. 

On at half-time to replace Sulemana, Samardzic combined with fellow substitute Lorenzo Bernasconi for the winner with an expertly placed header from the Italian's cross. 

Data Debrief: Pasalic's half-century piles more away-day misery on Napoli

Napoli's defeat has seen them slip 14 points adrift of leaders Inter, while AC Milan also have the chance to pull further clear of Antonio Conte's side, and it was another performance that failed to catch fire away from home. 

Indeed, Napoli ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.08 from their 10 shots, slightly bettering Atalanta's 0.75 from the same number of attempts, but it was not enough for the visitors, who have now lost at least six of their first 14 Serie A away matches in a season for the first time since 2009-10. 

And Atalanta's comeback was led by Pasalic, who, since his first goal for the club in Serie A (2018-19), has only had Hakan Calhanoglu (51) score more goals than his half-century among midfielders in the competition.