Atalanta secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Empoli in a thrilling encounter at the Gewiss Stadium, with Ademola Lookman finding the net to help his side maintain their lead at the top of the Serie A table.
The visitors stunned the home crowd early on when Lorenzo Colombo capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire Empoli into the lead in the 13th minute.
Atalanta, however, responded strongly, with Charles De Ketelaere leveling the score in the 34th minute through a brilliant header.
As halftime approached, Ademola Lookman showcased his class once again, scoring a crucial goal in the first minute of added time.
The Nigerian forward latched onto a clever pass and calmly slotted the ball past the Empoli goalkeeper, giving Atalanta a 2-1 advantage at the break.
Empoli refused to back down, earning a penalty in the 65th minute, which Sebastiano Esposito converted to draw the game level at 2-2.
With the pressure mounting, Atalanta needed a moment of magic to secure the win.
De Ketelaere stepped up once more in the 86th minute, netting his second goal of the match to seal all three points for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men.
His brace ensured that Atalanta held onto their top spot in the Serie A standings.
The victory underlined Atalanta’s resilience and attacking prowess, with Lookman proving to be a vital asset in their title charge.
The result also marked an important statement of intent as they continue to fend off challengers in the tightly contested league.
Atalanta will aim to extend their fine form in their next fixture, while Empoli will look to bounce back from the narrow defeat.