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Thuram and Retegui's hat-tricks help Inter and Atalanta win Serie A

Thuram and Retegui's hat-tricks help Inter and Atalanta win Serie A

MILAN (AP) — Marcus Thuram and Mateo Retegui scored hat tricks and helped their clubs to significant Serie A victories on Saturday.

Thuram scored all three of Inter Milan's goals in the defending champions' 3-2 win over 10-man Torino, while Retegui helped Atalanta beat his former club Genoa 5-1.

Inter moved to second place in the table, two points behind Napoli, after Antonio Conte's side beat Como 3-1 on Friday.

Only a point separated Inter and Torino before the game, but the visitors' chances of achieving anything at the San Siro diminished in the 20th minute when defender Guillermo Maripán was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Thuram.

Inter led five minutes later when Thuram headed Alessandro Bastoni's cross inside the left post.

Thuram doubled his and Inter's tally in the 35th minute with another great header, this time from a Francesco Acerbi cross, but Duván Zapata reduced the deficit almost immediately.

Thuram completed his first hat-trick for Inter after an hour. Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić could only parry a header from Lautaro Martínez and Thuram managed to bundle in the rebound despite the imbalance.

Thuram received a standing ovation when he was substituted eight minutes later.

However, there was a nervy finale for Inter after Nikola Vlasic converted a penalty for Torino with three minutes left after Hakan Çalhanoğlu had fouled Adam Masina.

No celebrations for Retegui

Retegui didn't celebrate his three goals out of respect for Genoa.

Genoa was the first Italian team Retegui played for after moving from Argentine club Boca Juniors in 2023.

The Argentine-born Italian striker spent one season with Genoa before moving to Atalanta in the off-season.

After each of his goals against his former club, Retegui held up his hand almost apologetically before being hugged by his Atalanta teammates.

Retegui opened the scoring in the 24th minute and doubled his tally early in the second half when he fired home a rebound after Genoa goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini – who is on loan from Atalanta – parried Ederson's shot.

Ederson got on the scoresheet ten minutes later and Retugui completed his hat-trick by converting a penalty after a handball from Alessandro Vogliacco.

Marten de Roon scored an impressive volley before Jeff Ekhator scored a consolation goal for Genoa.

Great free kick

Jordan Zemura paved the way for Udinese to win 1-0 against Lecce with a great free kick.

Udinese had already hit the woodwork twice in an entertaining game before Zemura shot into the top right corner from 25 meters out in the 25th minute.

Udinese moved up to third place while Lecce remained in fourth place after their third straight defeat without scoring.

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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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