Lookman’s solo effort seals Atalanta’s victory over Empoli

Goals by 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.

M’Baye Niang drilled wide from a promising position in the opening minutes, but the visitors lost Sebastian Walukiewicz to a muscular injury.

Atalanta was 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 the 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 a distance.

Pasalic couldn’t keep his volley down on the floated Hans Hateboer assist.