And the moment of Atalanta who in this part of the season sees the world only in colour. After the successes in Europe and the Italian Cup, the chase for a new qualification in the Champions League continues. At home, against Empoli, he does the bare minimum. One goal in each half and practice closed.
A heavy victory that completely reopens the Champions League race. The Nerazzurri are now two points behind Roma, but with a match still to recover (with Fiorentina, ed.). Complicated situation for the Tuscans, at +2 on the relegation zone: in the next round the direct clash with Frosinone could be decisive to stay in Serie A. The match at the Gewiss Stadium was anything but easy, the guests set up the match by placing practically mirror-like. The tactical solution chosen by Mister Nicola hampered Gasperini, with the Nerazzurri stuck especially in midfield: Pasalic struggled to set up the game, Lookman and Touré received few playable balls. There were very few opportunities to hurt in the first half, the Malian’s header scared Caprile, while Niang’s shot from the back put the Orobic defense on alert. Only one episode could break the deadlock in the match, in the 41st minute it was the VAR that recognized a foul by Pezzella on Touré in the Tuscan area: Pasalic from the decisive spot, with Caprile only managing to spot the corner.
Getty
Atalanta BC v Empoli 28/04/24
In the second half the Bergamo players played with less frenzy and, after just 6′, they found the second goal with Lookman’s diagonal shot starting practically from their own half of the pitch. The second goal practically froze Nicola’s team, incapable of reacting: Atalanta instead wasted several opportunities for the 3-0 with Miranchuk, the Russian was unable to find the winning position to definitively close the match. Not even the substitutions reversed the progress of the Tuscans, who practically left the pitch after Atalanta’s second goal. The Goddess was the one celebrating, who will challenge Salernitana in the next round.
The scoreboard
ATALANTA (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti (12’st Kolasinac), Hien, Scalvini; Zappacosta De Roon (12’st Ederson), Pasalic, Ruggeri (12’st Hateboer); Miranchuk (28’st Koopmeiners), Lookman (39’st De Ketelaere); Toure. On the bench: Musso, Rossi, Bakker, Adopo, Bonfanti, Comi, Scamacca. Coach: Gasperini
EMPOLI (3-4-1-2): Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz (25’pt Cacace), Luperto; Gyasi, Grassi (16’st Marin), Maleh (29’st Cancellieri), Pezzella; Fazzini (17’st Kovalenko); Niang (16’st Caputo), Cambiaghi. On the bench: Perisan, Seghetti, Goglichidze, Shpendi, Destro, Zurkowski, S.Bastoni. Coach: Nicola
REFEREE: Fabbri di Ravenna 5.5 GOALS: 42’pt Pasalic (rig), 6’st Lookman
NOTE: pitch in good condition. Attendance: 14,614. Booked: Luperto, Kovalenko, Scalvini. Corners: 8-1. Recovery time: 3′,
