Ademola Lookman, recently named African Footballer of the Year, played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Empoli on Sunday. The win helped Atalanta reclaim the top spot in the Serie A standings, surpassing Napoli by two points.
The match at the Gewiss Stadium began with Empoli taking an early lead. Lorenzo Colombo struck in the 13th minute, putting the visitors ahead. However, Atalanta responded with resilience. Charles De Ketelaere equalized in the 34th minute, setting the stage for a fiercely contested encounter.
Lookman added to his impressive season by scoring his 12th goal across all competitions during first-half injury time. His strike gave Atalanta a 2-1 advantage going into the break, igniting celebrations among the home fans.
Empoli fought back in the second half, with Sebastiano Esposito converting a penalty in the 57th minute to level the game at 2-2. As the clock ticked down and a draw seemed imminent, De Ketelaere stepped up once again. In the 86th minute, the Belgian midfielder showcased his skill and precision, dribbling along the edge of the box before delivering a stunning left-footed shot past the goalkeeper.
Elsewhere, Roma bounced back from a surprising loss last weekend by thrashing Parma 5-0. Paulo Dybala scored twice, with Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Paredes, and Artem Dovbyk adding to the tally. Meanwhile, Venezia secured a crucial 2-1 win over Cagliari to climb off the bottom of the table.
