De Roon responds to Ebuehi’s paw, goring in a cross to return from left-handed Ruggeri; then Hojlund slaps it inside with a right foot in the final (86′), taking advantage of Pasalic’s insertion on Ederson’s cross. It is Atalanta’s return to success thanks to a comeback against a good Empoli and which is to be divided in half between the Nerazzurri old guard and the young players. A victory that for the Bergamo players has been missing at home since the first return match with Sampdoria and absolutely since the match against Lazio on 11 February.
Atalanta 2-1 Empoli THE CHRONICLE OF THE MATCH
After a first half spent burning chances, the counterpoint arrives which rains down like an icy shower in the 44th minute due to a mistake by Ruggeri: a short clearance which facilitates Caputo’s assist for Ebuehi’s undersized turn. The right back of the Tuscans signs the 1-0 at the height of a good maneuver along the left chain with Parisi, Baldanzi and Akpa Akpro.
How many Nerazzurri mistakes, net of just one shot by De Roon in the 3rd minute: a left-footed shot saved by Perisan from a corner kick – the first of a series of 11 in the entire half – which is the result of a high recovery by Zapata against De Winter with relief for Ederson’s support in front of the line.
Pasalic gets close to the target four times. One foot, immediately at the start, a sort of penalty in movement chewed and skyrocketing in tow by Zappacosta who was the author of almost all the Nerazzurri’s crosses. The Croatian then repeats himself in aerial play: in the twentieth just barely touching it; in the 34th minute Parisi pushes it away from him in front of the line after specialist Muriel’s kick from the flag; and at the fortieth minute he pushes wide on Ruggeri’s suggestion. Towards the middle of the fraction, even the chance served by Ruggeri to Zappacosta was consumed, the two home strikers exchanged the summit to be attacked. Of the two, the dangerous one remains Zapata (moved to the right). Di Satriano the first Tuscan shot ever: an aerial turn procured by Akpa Akpro on which he dives without opposition, sending the ball not far from the post on the umpteenth bowl from the right deflected by Luperto (38′).
Closed the first half with another missed opportunity by Toloi, the second half opens with a double left in Caputo’s barrel on a veil from the ex Grassi; a double advance from Luperto-Perisan on Zapata; a sliding save by Scalvini again on Caputo who escaped on Palomino’s missed header; and finally a falling tap-in from the same former Sampdoria blocked by Musso after another badly handled corner (11′).
In the 24th minute Pasalic wastes the work of two Ederson-Zapata, a cross from the out and unmarking bank. With the comeback obtained, after 2′ of extra time Perisan extends his glove to say no to Lookman; in closing the same fate for Hojlund served by his partner in the reassembled trident with Boga.
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