Atalanta bench Retegui in favour of rivals Napoli

The Italian striker was left out of the starting line-up for the match against Napoli

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has defended his decision to bench Italy striker Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez against Napoli.

Retegui has been in impressive form for Atalanta this season, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions. However, he was left out of the starting line-up for the match against Napoli, with Gasperini opting to play Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel up front.

Gasperini said that he made the decision to bench Retegui because he wanted to give Zapata and Muriel a chance to play together. He also said that Retegui was not 100% fit.

"I decided to play Zapata and Muriel together because I think they are a good combination," Gasperini said. "They both have different qualities and I think they can complement each other well."

"Retegui is not 100% fit at the moment," Gasperini added. "He has been playing a lot of games lately and I think he needs a rest."

Atalanta went on to lose the match against Napoli 2-0. Zapata and Muriel both had chances to score, but they were unable to find the net. Retegui came on as a substitute in the second half, but he was unable to make an impact.

The decision to bench Retegui has been met with criticism from some fans. However, Gasperini has defended his decision, saying that he made it in the best interests of the team.

"I understand that some fans are disappointed that Retegui didn't start the match," Gasperini said. "But I made the decision that I thought was best for the team. I believe that Zapata and Muriel are a better combination up front at the moment."

It remains to be seen whether Retegui will start the next match for Atalanta. However, Gasperini's decision to bench him against Napoli shows that he is not afraid to make tough decisions.