Serie A – Atalanta-Empoli 2-0: goal by Pasalic from a penalty and Lookman. Three important points for Gasperini in the Champions League race

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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 scoreboard

ATLANTA (3-4-2-1) – Carnesecchi; Djimsiti (57′ Kolasinac), Hien, Scalvini; Zappacosta, Pasalic, De Roon (57′ Ederson), Ruggeri (57′ Hateboer); Miranchuk (73′ Koopmeiners), Lookman (84′ From Ketelare); The 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.

GOL: 42′ rig. Pasalic (A), 51′ Lookman (A).

AMMONITI: Scalvini (A), Luperto, Kovalenko (E).

Matteo Ruggeri and Emmanuel Gyasi during Atalanta-Empoli – Serie A 2023-24

Credit Foto 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 in a dive by 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 TRIES Left-footed shot by Cambiaghi and the ball goes out just over the top corner.

The social moment

MVP

Ademola LOOKMAN – When he accelerates you don’t catch him anymore. He scores a great goal and even comes close to scoring a double: undoubtedly the best on the pitch.

Fantasy football

Promoted

Mario PASALIC – The bonus comes from a penalty, but it arrives. The Croatian confirms himself as a guarantee for the Fantasy Coaches.

Rejected

Giuseppe PEZZELLA – Naive and heavy mistake during the penalty foul on El Bilal Touré. Bad day for him and for those who fielded him in their Fantasy Football team.

Gasperini: “Rumors about Koopmeiners? Whoever is out of the Cup has little to do”