Mario Pasalic and Ademola Lookman gave Atalanta the 2-0 victory over Empoli to close on the top five, despite squad rotation.
La Dea had to rotate the squad after the Coppa Italia semi-final win over Fiorentina, and building up to the first leg of the Europa League semi-final with Olympique Marseille. Emil Holm and Rafael Toloi were injured, while Empoli missed Etrit Berisha, Alberto Cerri, Ardian Ismajli and Tyronne Ebuehi after a shock win over Napoli.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
M’Baye Niang drilled wide from a promising position in the opening minutes, but the visitors lost Sebastian Walukiewicz to a muscular injury.
Atalanta were awarded a penalty following a VAR On-Field Review, as Giuseppe Pezzella mistimed the challenge on El Bilal Toure and caught the striker on the back of the leg. Mario Pasalic converted, despite Elia Caprile getting a hand to it.
It should’ve been 2-0 in first half stoppages when Toure went on the counter, but insisted on cutting back to his right foot, crowded out only for the Aleksei Miranchuk weak finish to be straight at Caprile.
Atalanta did double their lead with a solo effort from Ademola Lookman, who gathered in midfield, turned Bartosz Bereszynski to sprint towards goal and drill into the near bottom corner.
Lookman almost got another, his little shimmy to wrongfoot defenders and the angled drive skimming the far post.
Aleksei Miranchuk also curled off target, while Razvan Marin and Cambiaghi did not trouble Marco Carnesecchi from distance.
Pasalic couldn’t keep his volley down on the floated Hans Hateboer assist.
Atalanta 2-0 Empoli
Pasalic pen 42 (A), Lookman 51 (A)
28-04-2024 17:00 MatchDay 34 Gewiss Stadium (Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia)
42' 2nd half
| Ademola Lookman (Assist: Isak Hien) |
51' 77' Viktor Kovalenko Giorgio Scalvini
81'
Match statistic
59 Possession % 41 17 Total shots 11 5 Shots on target 2 6 Shots off target 6 6 Blocked shots 3 8 Corners 1 1 Offsides 1 19 Fouls 14 Atalanta EmpoliStarting lineups
2961' 28
Substitutes
174'
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