Mateo Retegui struck a hat-trick in Atalanta’s 5-1 home hammering of Genoa in Serie A on Saturday, condemning his struggling former club to a heavy defeat.
Italy forward Retegui’s treble at the Gewiss Stadium took his goal tally for Atalanta to seven since signing from Genoa in the summer after Gianluca Scamacca suffered a serious knee injury.
Ederson and Marten de Roon also scored with spectacular strikes as Atalanta crushed sorry Genoa, who scored late through Jeff Ekhator but dropped into the relegation zone on goal difference behind Lecce.
“I’m really happy, but not for myself, for the team, who played really well,” said Retegui to DAZN.
“I can only thank everyone for how I’ve been treated over these first few months, I’m really happy.”
Argentina-born Retegui has settled in quickly in Bergamo and also supplied the pass from which Ederson lashed in Atalanta’s third on the hour, which ensured Gian Piero Gasperini’s inconsistent side would move up to ninth on 10 points.
The 25-year-old opened the scoring by sliding in Ademola Lookman’s low cross in the 24th minute and doubled the hosts’ lead five minutes after half-time when he pounced to net on the rebound after Ederson’s shot was saved by Pierluigi Gollini.
Retegui completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 74th minute after Alessandro Vogliacco was penalised for handball, making up somewhat for his fluffed spot-kick which denied Atalanta an opening Champions League win over Arsenal last month.
Saturday’s convincing win came after another strong display on Wednesday, when Atalanta beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen in Europe’s top club competition.
Later, champions Inter Milan try to cut the five-point gap separating them from league leaders Napoli when they host Torino at the San Siro.
Simone Inzaghi’s side will be back to near full strength, after his second string hammered Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday.
A win would lift Inter — missing injured Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella — above Udinese, who sit second after beating lowly Lecce 1-0 in the day’s early match.
