With Atalanta in the midst of a three-match losing home league run and Salernitana winless in five in the league, it was anyone's guess which way this game would go.
Atalanta thought they had staked a claim to end their run inside five minutes when Jeremie Boga worked some space on the edge of the area and rifled home his first league goal of the season.
Perhaps the psychological scars of that losing run reared their ugly head for Atalanta, as their lead lasted just a matter of minutes, with Krzysztof Piatek doing the leg work to tee up Boulaye Dia to level the scores in a frantic start.
This game ebbed and flowed in several directions, but it was Atalanta who looked more threatening, and they nosed ahead again midway through the first half.
Matteo Lovato’s momentary lapse in concentration handed Atalanta the chance from 12 yards, a penalty which was duly converted by Ademola Lookman.
As quickly as the second arrived, so did the third - Teun Koopmeiners’ teasing delivery from the corner was powered home by Giorgio Scalvini to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.
Salernitana really were the architects of their own downfall, with Federico Fazio the next man to give a penalty away, which was this time despatched by Koopmeiners to place the game beyond any reasonable doubt.
Atalanta were in the mood for more goals before the break though, with the game rapidly descending into an embarrassment for Salernitana. Rasmus Hojlund was next to get his name on the scoresheet, adding the finishing touches to some great work in the build-up from Marten de Roon.
When Lookman added Atalanta’s sixth shortly after the break, Salernitana probably feared the worst, but a swift response from Hans Nicolussi at least ensured the deficit was back at four.
It didn’t stay that way all too long though, with substitute Ederson stamping his authority on proceedings by adding Atalanta’s seventh of the evening.
The scoring wasn’t done there on what was a breathless afternoon, with Nadir Zortea rounding off the scoring to rub salt into Salernitana's wounds as they slumped to a 12th successive SA away defeat in Lombardia.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
