ATALANTA starting XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi, Djimsiti (subbed for Kolasinac), Hien, Scalvini, Zappacosta, De Roon (subbed for Ederson), Pasalic, Ruggeri (subbed for Hateboer), Miranchuk (subbed for Koopmeiners), Lookman (subbed for De Ketelaere), Toure
Bench: Musso, Rossi, Bakker, Adopo, Bonfanti, Comi, Scamacca
Goals: Pasalic 42’ (Pen), Lookman 51’
EMPOLI starting XI (3-4-1-2): Caprile, Bereszynski, Walukiewicz (subbed for Cacace), Luperto, Gyasi, Grassi (subbed for Marin), Maleh (subbed for Cancellieri), Pezzella, Fazzini (subbed for Kovalenko), Niang (subbed for Caputo), Cambiaghi
Bench: Perisan, Seghetti, Goglichidze, Shpendi, Destro, Zurkowski, S.Bastoni
Atalanta had 59 per cent possession and created 11 chances to Empoli’s eight.
Mario Pasalic put the home side ahead just before the break when he scored a penalty awarded for a foul on El Bilal Toure. Initially the referee didn’t pay the spot kick, but a VAR intervention made him correct his decision.
Ademola Lookman made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when he turned his man in midfield, drove forward with the ball and rifled a low shot that beat the keeper from outside the box.
Atalanta are sixth on the table, two points behind Roma in the final UCL spot but with a game in hand.
Empoli are just two points above the drop and play fellow relegation battlers Frosinone next in a match neither side can afford to lose.
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