Musa Barrow and Timothy Castagne's second-half goals fired Atalanta third in Serie A on Saturday as a 2-1 win kept the unheralded Bergamo side's push for a first-ever Champions League campaign firmly on track.

Castagne and Duvan Zapata both had goals ruled out for offside in the first 20 minutes of the game, which was played at Sassuolo's Mapei Stadium because of work on Atalanta's home ground.

But 20-year-old Gambian Barrow broke through immediately after being substituted on at the break for his first goal this season, with Belgian Castagne adding a second on 53 minutes, finishing off Berat Djimsiti's low cross.

Goran Pandev pulled a goal back for Genoa one minute from time, but the fightback came too late as Atalanta extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

Atalanta overtake Inter Milan to move third with two games left this season -- against champions Juventus in Turin and back at the Mapei Stadium against Sassuolo on May 26.

"Today's win was really important, as the closer we get to the finish line, the more decisive each point becomes," said coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

"Mathematically, we have only a few points left to go, but it also puts us in a better state of mind going into the Coppa Italia final.

"The team has been extraordinary in terms of mentality."

The victory is a boost for Atalanta who head to Rome on Wednesday to play the Coppa Italia final against Lazio.

Lazio beat Cagliari 2-1 in Sardinia on Saturday, to sit seventh in Serie A, five points adrift of Inter Milan and the top four.

Juventus and Napoli have already qualified for next season's Champions League, but behind them the scramble is frenetic in the chase for the two remaining berths.

Behind Atalanta, now on 65 points, are Inter Milan (63), AC Milan (59) and Roma (59).

Atalanta's and Lazio's wins piles the pressure on both AC Milan and Roma, who need a result this weekend to keep their dream alive.

Inter Milan, desperate for a win after three draws, host relegated Chievo, with AC Milan at Fiorentina and Torino at home against Sassuolo.

Roma have a tough task as they host champions Juventus, who have been held in their last two games, since wrapping up the title.

Napoli play at SPAL after Carlo Ancelotti's side secured second place in the league last weekend.

Genoa, with just one win from their last 11 games, are four points above the relegation zone with their final matches against Cagliari and Fiorentina.