Empoli-Atalanta 0-5
Networks: 27’PT Aut. Gyasi, 33’st Ratetui, 43’pt, 10’st Lookman, 29’st Zappacosta
Empoli (3-5-2): Silvestri 5; Cacace 5, Goglichidze 5, De Sciglio 5; Gyasi 4.5 (11’st Sambia 6), Henderson 5, Grassi 5 (27’st Zurkowski 6), Maleh 4.5 (38’st Kovalenko Sv), Pezzella 5; Kouamé 4.5 (11’st Colombo 6), Esposito 5 (27’st Campaniello 6). On the bench: saws, Vasquez, Brancolini, Tosto, Bembnista, Bacci, Colombo, Konate. Coach: D’Aversa 5.
Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Carnesecchi 6; Posch 6.5, Djimsiti 7 (18’st Toloi 6), Kolasinac 6.5; Bellanova 6.5, De Roon 7, Pasalic 6.5 (31’st Brescianini 6), Zappacosta 7.5 (41’st Ruggeri Sv); De Ketelaere 6.5 (18’st Ederson 6), Rettegui 7.5, Lookman 8 (31’st Cuadrado 6). On the bench: Rui Patricio, Rossi, Del Lungo, Sulemana, Samardzic, Gym, Vavassori, V. Vlahovic. Coach: Gasperini 7.5
REFEREE: Mariani of Aprilia 6.5
Notes: playing ground in good condition. Spectators: 9,176. Ammonites: Carnesecchi. Corners: 3-4. Recovery: 2’pt, 2’st.
Empoli – overflowing and in full championship struggle. At -3 from the leaders Inter, to -2 from Napoli, or the first two of the class who will face on Saturday in a direct clash that could go well to the goddess. Atalanta returns to success after the elimination from the Champions League at the hands of the Bruges. Against Empoli ends 5-0, after Gyasi’s goal, Lookman’s brace and Zappacosta goals and restecui decisive. Afternoon to forget for Empoli, now at -2 from the salvation area and the fourth consecutive defeat. The words of Gian Piero Gasperini at the press conference most likely they have fruit. The technician deployed the best training, with Lookman and De Ketelare to support stagnation. Many emergencies for D’Aversa who decided to deploy Esposito and Kouamé in attack, with Colombo on the bench. In the first quarter of an hour the Nerazzurri pressed their foot on the accelerator, three occasions not exploited by the Orobicians: the one of Djimsiti who headed the winning deviation, decisive, the start of Silvestri, was sensational. The turning point came to 27 ‘when Zappacosta attempted the cross in the area, but Gyasi’s detour raised a bell tower that deceived his goalkeeper.
Five minutes later, in the 33 ‘, Rettegui scored his 21st league goal, making himself ready on the second post: the one-two he sieges the Tuscans, at 43’ Lookman, after the imbucata of strategists and the touch of sole, the 3-0 net invented. In the second half, practically nothing has changed, in addition to a sketch of reaction, D’Aversa’s team was unable to reopen the match. At 10 ‘Lookman cheered again for his personal brace, at 29’ Zappacosta with a personal action managed to mock Silvestri for the fifth time with a low raid. Some occasions not exploited by Empoli in the final, Campaniello (16 years old and debut) from two steps in front of Carnesecchi kicked up. The sixteenth victory for the Nerazzurri who, as said by Gasperini, will try to believe in the impossible: in the next round there will be the home match against Venice. Negative moment for Empoli, at an altitude of 21 points and in the third last position: the trip against Genoa will become a fundamental hub of the season.