Atalanta 6-2 Brescia: Former Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic scores a hat-trick in romp

Former Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic scored a hat-trick as Atalanta thrashed relegation-threatened Brescia 6-2 on Tuesday to climb to second place in Serie A, six points behind leaders Juventus and two ahead of Inter Milan and Lazio.

Boasting Serie A’s most potent attack, Atalanta took the lead when Ruslan Malinovsky sliced open the defence with a clever pass to set up Pasalic, who never made a senior appearance in six years at the Blues, to score in the second minute.

Brescia struck back six minutes later through Ernesto Torregrossa.

Atalanta midfielder Mario Pasalic scored the opening goal in the second minute

But they were stunned by three superb goals from Marten de Roon, Malinovsky and a diving header by Duvan Zapata to go in at the break 4-1 down.

The home side did not let up after half-time with Pasalic netting twice more to complete his hat-trick.

Nikolas Spalek pulled a goal back, but the defeat left Brescia second from bottom on 21 points after 33 games, nine points from the safety zone. 

Forward Ernesto Torregrossa equalised for Brescia in the eighth minute on Tuesday

Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon scored their second goal in the 25th minute

Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi fired home the third goal in the 28th minute

Duvan Zapata scored the fourth goal for the home side before half-time with a diving header

Atalanta midfielder Pasalic netted twice more in the second half to complete his hat-trick