Atalanta continue winning run with a 3-2 victory over Empoli

Serie A leaders Atalanta ground out a 3-2 win when they host Empoli to remain at the log summit.

Empoli would have secured a memorable draw against an informed side, but Charles De Ketelaere crashed the party with a splendid brace to complete the comeback.

Atalanta has won 11 consecutive Serie A games this season and will spend Christmas as leaders.

Pressure was on the  Europa League holders as they continued a club record run and needed all three points to keep top spot after Napoli’s victory on Saturday.

The visitors showed their intent of leaving with maximum points as they took a shock lead when they took advantage of throwing, as Henderson, who took advantage of the throw since he can’t be ruled offside, got to the by-line and pulled back for Lorenzo Colombo to volley in with a deflection from eight yards.

Le Dea suffered another blow when they lost Mateo Retegui to a muscular injury after just 21 minutes. Nicolò Zaniolo was replaced within 60 seconds for treading on Sebastiano Esposito’s foot.

Devis Vasquez stopped the hosts from drawing level with a desperate reaction save to claw Sead Kolasinac’s header out of the near top corner from a free-kick situation, slapping the ball onto the upright.

Atalanta eventually restored parity when Davide Zappacosta’s cross went over Zaniolo, but  Charles De Ketelaere was there to score with a diving header into the near bottom corner from 12 yards.

Berat Djimsiti almost completed a comeback for the hosts, but his towering header thumped the frame of the goal from a De Ketelaere free kick.

The leaders eventually turned it around on the stroke of half-time as Zaniolo nodded down the De Ketelaere cross from the left for Lookman to take a touch and drill in from a tricky angle.

The pole again stopped La Dea as De Ketelaere’s cross-shot and an Ederson scorcher skimmed the far post.

Empoli then got an opportunity to equalize after being awarded a penalty following a VAR review for Djimsiti catching Alberto Grassi’s boot as he fell. Esposito converted the spot kick with power to leave a nervous ending for the hosts.

Having struggled to break Empoli down, an individual brilliance won the tie for Le Dea. De Ketelaere from the right flank picked the ball, cut inside to dribble past four, and drilled left-footed into the near bottom corner from just inside the penalty area for 3-2, sealing a maximum of points for Atalanta.