Christian Vieri got his first goal of the season as Atalanta condemned Udinese to a fifth Serie A loss on the trot.

The Friulani took a step towards ending their crisis in their midweek UEFA Cup victory over Dinamo Zagreb, which confirmed their qualification for the next round, but still needed a boost following four consecutive Serie A defeats.

This was no easy task, as they travelled to an Atalanta side that had lost just once in Bergamo all season and did so without the suspended Antonio Di Natale. Luca Cigarini, Alessio Cerci, Cristian Zapata and Damiano Ferronetti were injured. However, Udinese were undefeated at the Azzurri d'Italia since a 1-0 result in November 1996.

Antonio Floro Flores failed to get on the end of Simone Pepe's low cross and Pasquale caused repeated problems as Udinese had the better of the play early on.

However, it was Atalanta who took the lead with a classic counter-attack. Sergio Floccari's stepovers confused defenders so he rolled across for Jaime Valdes' wonderful curling finish into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Moments later Ferreira Pinto controlled a Cristiano Doni assist with the outside of his foot and forced Samir Handanovic into a save.

Floccari had a spectacular individual move charged down, then he wasted a great chance created for him by Valdes.

Straight after the restart Pepe and a Ferreira Pinto header were just wide of the target, then Maurizio Domizzi sprung the offside trap only for Coppola to close him down.

Doni celebrated being made an honorary citizen of Bergamo this week by scoring Atalanta's second. He went on the counter, passed to Floccari and went to the back post for a precise header.

Christian Vieri scored his first goal of the season, gathering Tiberio Guarente's pass with his back to goal and spinning round to fire in from seven yards.