Lookman and super De Ketelaere stronger than Var, Natale at the top but Retegui goes down

L’Atalanta responds to Napoli, wins the eleventh victory in a row in the championship and enjoys a Christmas at the top of the table. Gasperini's team beatsEmpoli 3-2 at the end of a match full of emotions and also marked by controversy over a penalty awarded to the Tuscans. The Nerazzurri were unstoppable, led by Zaniolo, De Ketelaere and Lookman. The only discordant note is represented by Retegui's injury.

Atalanta, shock start: Empoli ahead and Retegui knocked out

The start of the game you don't expect. At 12' Empoli punishes the unusual sleep of Gasperini's team. On the throw-in the Nerazzurri defenders forget about Hendersonwhich reaches the bottom and fishes in the middle Colombovery good at scoring behind Carnesecchi.

Relive all the emotions of Atalanta-Empoli

Sensational blackoutAtalantawho also loses in the 20th minute Retegui due to a muscle problem. Zaniolo enters in his place, immediately booked for a stomp on Esposito.

CDK is still thinking about it, Lookman for the overtaking

In the 34th minute the Bergamo players grabbed the equaliser: Zappacosta's cross from the left, Zaniolo did well to waste time on Ismajli and De Ketelaere's winning headerwhich anticipates Cacace. The Belgian confirms himself on fire: seventh goal in the last seven games in various competitions.

At this stage of the season, the former Milan player is Gasperini's extra man. Shortly after, the hosts came close to overtaking: Djimsiti's header and the ball hit the post. Second wood in a matter of minutes for the Goddess: shortly before it was Kolasinac who committed Vasquez, who managed to save his goal by deflecting the ball onto the upright. At the end of the first half Atalanta overturned it: Zaniolo's bank and Lookman's lethal insertion2-1.

The penalty for Empoli and the pearl of De Ketelaere

In the 54th minute Empoli got back on track with an episode that infuriated Atalanta. Referee Feliciani is recalled by Var for a contact between Djmisiti and Grassi in the Orobic area: after reviewing the action on the monitor, Atri's whistle awards the guests the penalty, the first in the championship against Gasperini's eleven. Give it eleven metres Esposito isn't wrong2-2.

In the finale De Ketelaere takes the chair again: the Belgian further improves his statistics with a screaming serpentine that goes down the Gewiss Stadium. Atalanta suffers, but wins 3-2 and enjoys Christmas in first place in the table.

Top and flop for Atalanta

• De Ketelaere 8: With Retegui having pulled the handbrake lately and was also injured this evening, it is the Belgian who has taken Atalanta by the hand with his goals. Once again lethal, the former Milan player. In a state of grace.
• Lookman 6,5: Celebrate the African Ballon d'Or with the goal of the momentary 2-1.
• Zaniolo 6.5: He comes on in Retegui's place and changes the game. Nicolò is the protagonist on the goals of CDK and Lookman: after dark years, his moment seems to have truly arrived.
• Zappacosta 6,5: He sends CDK into the goal with a kissing cross.
• Colossians 5,5: On Colombo's goal, everyone was asleep, because the entire defensive battery was found unprepared. The fact is that Henderson surprised the former Arsenal man from behind.
• DJmisit 5: The contact with Grassi is very light, but that's enough for the VAR to report the penalty foul.

Top and flop for Empoli

• Esposito 6,5: At 22 he takes on the responsibility of kicking a very heavy penalty: glacial.
• Colombo 6,5: Cold in converting Henderson's excellent pass into the net. Fourth seal in the championship, always away.
• Henderson 6,5: He takes the Orobic defense by surprise with the lateral foul and serves an assist to the kiss for Colombo who makes no mistake.
• Ishmael 5.5: He suffers from the movements of the lively Zaniolo. Against the league leaders he had a bad evening.
• Cacace 4.5: Mocked by De Ketelaere, once again lethal with a header. Bad coverage on Zaniolo on the occasion of the second goal scored by Lookman