Atalanta closes a perfect week, beats Empoli 2-0 at the Gewiss Stadium and wins three golden points in the Champions League race which allows them to move to -2 from fifth place occupied by Roma with a match still to recover. Goals from Pasalic on a penalty in the 42nd minute and Lookman in the 51st minute at the end of a splendid acceleration allowed Gasperini to score his third victory in seven days after the 2-1 in Monza last Sunday in the league and the 4-1 in Wednesday at home against Fiorentina in the semi-final return of the Italian Cup. The Dea will thus be able to prepare with maximum serenity for the first leg semi-final against Marseille scheduled for Thursday at the Velodrome. A setback, however, for Empoli who still maintain a 2-point advantage over fourth-to-last place: Nicola’s Tuscans will have several chances of survival in the next round at the Castellani against Frosinone.
The full match report coming soon…
The scoreboard
ATALANTA (3-4-2-1) – Carnesecchi; Djimsiti (57′ Kolasinac), Hien, Scalvini; Zappacosta, Pasalic, De Roon (57′ Ederson), Ruggeri (57′ Hateboer); Miranchuk (73′ Koopmeiners), Lookman (84′ De Ketelaere); El Bilal Toure. All.: Gasperini.
EMPOLI (3-4-2-1) – Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz (25′ Cacace), Luperto; Gyasi, Grassi (62′ Marin), Maleh (75′ Cancellieri), Pezzella; Fazzini (62′ Kovalenko), Cambiaghi; Niang (62′ Caputo). All.: Nicola.
REFEREE: Juan Luca Sacchi of the Macerata section.
GOAL: 42′ pen. Pasalic (A), 51′ Lookman (A).
WARNINGS: Scalvini (A), Luperto, Kovalenko (E).
Matteo Ruggeri and Emmanuel Gyasi during Atalanta-Empoli – Serie A 2023-24
Photo Credit Getty Images
The news in 6 key moments
42′ GOOOOOOLLLL OF ATALANTA! PASALIC! 1-0! Contact in the area between Pezzella and El Bilal Touré. Sacchi lets it go and then, called back for an On Field Review, reviews the action and grants a penalty to the Goddess. Pasalic converts from the spot: Caprile senses and touches the ball, but is unable to block it.
48′ pt. ATALANTA CLOSE TO 2-0 Great leap from El Bilal Touré who goes away quickly, enters the area and serves Miranchuk whose left-footed low shot, too weak, is blocked by diving Caprile.
51′ GOOOOOOLLL OF ATALANTA! LOOKMAN! 2-0! Large number of the Nigerian who goes away to Bereszynski, heads straight towards the Empoli goal and, having reached the limit, lets loose a left low shot that pierces Caprile.
60′ LOOKMAN SUPER! Great action by the Nigerian who suddenly swerves to the edge of the area and shoots with his left foot: a diagonal shot that goes out just a little, also thanks to a deflection. Corner for Atalanta.
63′ MIRANCHUK WASTES Hateboer’s scavetto and header from two steps: the ball, hit weakly, ends up in the arms of Caprile.
89′ EMPOLI TRY Cambiaghi turns the left and the ball goes out just over the top corner.
The social moment
Gasperini: “Rumors about Koopmeiners? Whoever is out of the Cup has little to do”
