African player of the year Ademola Lookman was on target last night as in-form Atalanta beat Empoli 3-2 in the Italian Serie A. Atalanta scored a late winner to beat their visitors and ensure they will be top of Serie A on Christmas Day.
Empoli who is in the did-table position went up when Lorenzo Colombo volleyed in from Scot Liam Henderson’s cross. Charles de Ketelaere levelled with a diving header before African player of the year Ademola Lookman gave them the lead.
Atalanta went into the half-time break with the lead but Empoli equalised through a Sebastiano Esposito penalty. De Ketelaere struck a late second to win the game for the Bergamo side.
Atalanta, who have won 11 Serie A games in a row, are two points above second-placed Napoli. They face fourth-placed Lazio on 28 December. Atalanta have never won the Serie A title. Their only major trophies are the 1963 Coppa Italia and last season’s Europa League.
Speaking about the win the club manager Gian Piero Gasperini said: “It’s been a wonderful year – we’re sorry it’s ending. Let’s hope that 2025 will be just as good.” “It won’t be easy, but beyond the results I’m very happy with the spirit that there is in this team.”
