Spal have climbed up to second place in the Serie A table after securing their third victory from four matches with a 2-0 defeat of Atalanta.
Their latest three-point haul means they trail only Juventus – champions for the past seven years – and are ahead of last season's runners-up Napoli on goal difference.
Andrea Petagna's two second-half finishes have put the Ferrara club on a promising platform for the campaign ahead – and his brace leaves his former club Atalanta in 14th place.
The first came in the 50th minute when, after Felipe saw a header saved by visiting goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, Petagna was well-placed to send the rebound towards the top-right corner.
His second goal came six minutes later, and similarly from close range into the top right, this time via a deflection off Rafael Toloi.
