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Tomas Manfredini gave away a very dubious penalty and made up for it with the last-minute winner over 10-man Napoli in this ill-tempered encounter.
Last season this fixture ended 5-1, but times have changed, as Napoli were sitting pretty in second place and the Orobici had picked up just two points from their previous five games. Luca Cigarini and the suspended Tiberio Guarente missed out, but the visitors welcomed back Christian Maggio from a ban.
It was a reunion for some players, as Ferdinando Coppola and Gyorgy Garics have worn the Napoli shirt. Atalanta hadn't lost here to the Azzurri since 1995-96.
Christian Vieri received his first start in an Atalanta jersey, but Napoli had a strong start. Ezequiel Lavezzi volleyed over, then Maggio's header at the back post was flapped off the line.
Cristiano Doni's angled drive skimmed the upright, but there was bad news for Napoli, as Gianpaolo Bellini accidentally trod on German Denis' hand. He tried to carry on, but when the blood seeped through the bandages it became obvious he had to make way for Marcelo Zalayeta.
The substitute had a good chance almost immediately, combining with Lavezzi for a low finish parried by Coppola.
Atalanta had a great chance after the restart, but Gennaro Iezzo intercepted Ferreira Pinto's pass to the totally unmarked Vieri. If it had squeezed through, the tap-in from six yards would have been child's play.
Iezzo flew to palm a looping Floccari header out of the top corner and from the resulting set play Manuele Blasi required a goalline clearance to deny another Floccari header.
The goal was in the air and Atalanta broke through at the end of that siege with Ferreira Pinto, who turned Matteo Contini inside out to smash a fierce strike high at the near post.
Things got worse for Napoli, as Zalayeta saw red for hacking down Leonardo Talamonti in a second bookable offence.
However, 10-man Napoli were awarded a penalty for Tomas Manfredini's challenge on Lavezzi, though replays show he clearly got the ball in a well-timed tackle. Manfredini was understandably furious Marek Hamsik converted to draw Napoli level in Bergamo.
Captain Doni was also livid and continued his protest for several minutes, even more so when Jaime Valdes felt he was brought down in the penalty area by Maggio and it was a very good shout, but the referee waved play on. Coach Luigi Del Neri saw red for dissent.
Of all people, it was Manfredini who snatched victory in the final minute! His free kick took a deflection off Walter Gargano to leave Iezzo stranded, a good way to put the bitterness of that penalty behind him. However, he foolishly went to celebrate under the curva while already booked and was sent off.
Floccari put the win beyond doubt in stoppages, tapping in Ferreira Pinto's counter down the right flank. Floccari came sliding in and deflected it over the goalkeeper almost by accident with his knee.
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