0
0
With a vital win away from home, Atalanta reignited their bid for the Serie A title with a convincing 5-0 victory at lowly Empoli on Sunday evening. Ademola Lookman scored a brilliant double, with a goal in each half, to help Atalanta narrow the gap with leaders Inter Milan and Napoli.
A month ago, the battle for the Scudetto seemed like a two-horse race between Napoli and Inter, but indifferent results from both sides have allowed Atalanta to close the gap. Atalanta now have 54 points, three behind leaders Inter and two off Napoli, with 12 rounds of matches remaining.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with an own goal from Empoli striker Emmanuel Gyasi, who deflected Davide Zappacosta’s cross into the corner of the net. The goal was a result of a well-worked move by Atalanta, which saw Zappacosta deliver a pinpoint cross from the edge of the box. Gyasi’s attempted clearance only succeeded in diverting the ball past Empoli goalkeeper Marco Silvestri.
Atalanta then dominated the match, with Mateo Retegui doubling the lead six minutes later, from a clever through ball by Lookman, who played a pivotal role in the build-up to the goal. Lookman’s vision and passing ability were on full display as he picked out Retegui with a precise pass, allowing the Argentine striker to score with ease.
Lookman made it 3-0 in the 43rd minute, latching onto a through ball, rounding Silvestri, and scoring into an empty net, with speed and agility, as he left the Empoli defense in his wake before calmly slotting the ball past Silvestri.
Lookman got his second goal 10 minutes after the break, latching onto a through ball from Marten de Roon, evading the offside trap, and firing an angled shot past Silvestri. Lookman’s second goal was another example of his clinical finishing, as he expertly dispatched the ball past Silvestri with a precise shot.
Zappacosta completed the rout in the 74th minute, sealing a convincing win for Atalanta. The defeat leaves Empoli third-bottom on 21 points, two points below the safety zone. Atalanta’s win, on the other hand, has reignited their title hopes, and they will look to build on this momentum in the coming weeks.
Lookman’s performance was particularly impressive, as he caused chaos for the Empoli defense and played a pivotal role in the build-up to Retegui’s goal. His goalscoring display was also a perfect response to recent criticism from coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who had questioned his penalty-taking abilities. However, Lookman was reluctant to comment further on the issue, instead focusing on Atalanta’s dominant victory.
