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Atalanta almost threw away a 3-0 lead, but held on to send Messina further down the standings.
The Sicilians have plummeted down the standings of late with four straight defeats and lost Capocannoniere Christian Rigano' to injury until the New Year, so Sergio Floccari took centre stage. Marco Zanchi, Mark Iuliano and Daniele De Vezze sat out bans. Former Messina hero Riccardo Zampagna faced his old teammates, but Atalanta were missing the suspended Massimo Donati.
Atalanta threatened early on with Bernardini's long-range screamer fingertipped over the bar by Marco Storari. Bellini then had a crack from distance that, with a deflection off Cristiano Doni, whistled wide of the target.
It was the home side who took the lead, although Messina's defence was caught napping. A throw-in was flicked on by Ferreira Pinto and Davide Bombardini came sliding in for the finish from six yards for his first goal of the season.
Zampagna couldn't get enough power on his header to trouble his former teammate Storari.
Atalanta doubled their lead in the second half with Brazilian Ferreira Pinto's first Serie A goal. It was a splendid angled drive with his right foot into the far corner.
Carmine Coppola's fierce strike was turned out by goalkeeper Alex Calderoni as Messina fought back, but Simone Loria was astonished to be denied a penalty for a clear shirt-tug.
Cristiano Doni has been on stunning form this season and scored a truly memorable goal. With his back to the net, he flicked up a cross and performed an overhead kick to beat Storari.
Zampagna's goal was disallowed for offside and it was Messina who netted through one of Nicolas Cordova's trademark free kicks from distance.
The final five minutes were fiery at the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia, as Arturo Di Napoli was left totally unmarked for a free header from a set-piece to make it 3-2.
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