Atalanta edged relegation-threatened Empoli 2-1 in a tense Serie A clash at Stadio Carlo Castellani on February 23, 2025, extending their dominance in this fixture to six consecutive wins despite a spirited second-half fightback from the hosts.
Match Context
Empoli entered this game winless in their last 10 league matches (D2 L8), sitting just one point above the relegation zone. Atalanta arrived third in Serie A but reeling from Champions League elimination to Club Brugge days earlier. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini surprisingly started Ademola Lookman despite publicly criticizing his penalty-taking ability after their European exit.
Key Moments
- 23′: Charles De Ketelaere opened scoring for Atalanta with a low finish after Teun Koopmeiners’ through-ball split Empoli’s defense.
- 54′: Mateo Retegui doubled La Dea’s lead via a header from Davide Zappacosta’s cross.
- 78′: Substitute Sebastiano Esposito pulled one back for Empoli with a deflected strike.
- 89′: Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario denied Lookman a potential clincher with a fingertip save.
Tactical Shifts
Atalanta dominated possession (63%) but struggled to kill the game despite Retegui’s league-leading 18th goal. Empoli manager Paolo Zanetti switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation after halftime, unleashing Esposito and Tommaso Baldanzi as dual attacking midfielders – a move that nearly salvaged an unlikely point.
Post-Match Implications
| Statistic | Empoli | Atalanta |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on Target | 4 | 7 |
| Possession | 37% | 63% |
| Tackles Won | 19 | 14 |
| xG | 1.1 | 2.4 |
The result keeps Atalanta within five points of league leaders Napoli while Empoli slip into the bottom three. Gasperini praised his team’s “resilience under pressure,” though questions remain about their defensive stability after conceding in eight straight matches.
