After 10 straight wins took them top of the tree in Serie A, Atalanta BC will aim to celebrate Christmas as Italy's number one when they host Empoli on Sunday evening.

preview

Setting a new club best for consecutive Serie A wins, Atalanta made it a perfect 10 last week, edging out Cagliari by virtue of Nicolo Zaniolo's goal and a superb series of saves from Marco Carnesecchi.

As a result, they have now taken maximum points from 12 of 16 league matches this season, and a sustained Scudetto challenge seems to be on the cards for Gian Piero Gasperini's men.

In the thick of an enthralling title race, the Bergamaschi can claim to be targeting four trophies, as they aim to build on a memorable Europa League triumph in Dublin.

Also set to take part in the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana, Atalanta began their latest cup campaign in some style on Wednesday evening, as they returned to the Coppa Italia for the first time since losing to Juventus in last season's final.

A scorer in recent high-profile games against Real Madrid and his former club AC Milan, Charles De Ketelaere bagged a brace during La Dea's 6-1 mauling of modest Serie B club Cesena, setting up a quarter-final clash with fellow Champions League side Bologna in February.

Having lost only one of 12 top-flight home games versus Empoli to date, an extension to their winning run is expected this weekend, but tough taskmaster Gasperini will be the first to guard against any complacency.

Either home or away, Empoli have lost the clubs' last four meetings by an aggregate score of 9-1, so recent history will not be on their side at the Gewiss Stadium.

However, they can head for Lombardy with one of Serie A's best road records behind them: a tally of 12 points from eight away matches is bettered only by five teams - one of which, naturally, is Atalanta.

After starting December by winning on their travels against local rivals Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia and then Hellas Verona in the league, the Azzurri's mystifying lack of success on home soil continued last weekend.

Beaten by a spectacular strike by Che Adams, who audaciously lobbed Devis Vasquez from the halfway line at Stadio Castellani, Empoli were left clinging on to a place in the top half of the table - but their objective of achieving Serie A safety is still on track.

Roberto D'Aversa's squad has been struck by injuries throughout the season, yet they continue to exceed expectations and will have little to lose when they face down Italy's most fearsome front line.

possible starting lineup: