Serie A | Gameweek 26

Feb 23, 2025 at 5pm UK

Stadio Carlo Castellani

Empoli vs Atalanta

Match preview

Aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their Champions League play-off against Club Brugge, Atalanta could not have got off to a worse start when they conceded on the counter-attack within three minutes of kick-off.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts, who conceded twice more before half-time before substitute Ademola Lookman pulled one back just after the break, only for the Nigerian striker to miss a penalty and club captain Rafael Toloi to be embarrassingly sent off.

Last year's Europa League winners were eliminated from UEFA's elite competition, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini's post-match comments about Lookman, who scored a hat-trick for La Dea in Dublin, leaving a sour taste in the mouth.

The setback continued an inauspicious start to the year which saw Atalanta lose both the Supercoppa and Coppa Italia amid inconsistent form in Serie A.

The Bergamasque side would be 10th in the rankings from the start of 2025, having seen their fading title hopes take another hit with last week's goalless draw against Cagliari.

Sitting in third place, behind Inter Milan and Napoli, the Nerazzurri's main concern will be to secure a Champions League spot by the end of the season.

However, heading into Sunday's trip to Tuscany, they are on a 10-match unbeaten run away from home in Serie A - the second-best run of the Gasperini era.

Not only have Empoli lost their last five games against Atalanta - including an eventful 3-2 away defeat in December - but they have also lost five of the last six meetings between the two sides at the Stadio Castellani.

As such, history and recent form are against them this week, with the Azzurri heading for a freefall into Serie B unless they can halt their worrying slide.

Roberto D'Aversa's injury-ravaged side lost 3-0 to Udinese last time out, making it three defeats in a row in February - and by an aggregate score of 9-1.

This calendar year, Empoli have picked up the fewest points - two, tied with Parma - and conceded the most goals (17), leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone.

While they may have one eye on next week's Coppa quarter-final against Juventus, D'Aversa's men will be looking to capitalise on Atalanta's woes and record just their second home win of the season.

Recent Performance

Empoli Serie A form:LLDLLL

Atalanta BC Serie A form:DLWDWD

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):DLWLDL

Team News

Atalanta will be without long-term absentees Gianluca Scamacca, Odilon Kossounou and Giorgio Scalvini, as well as injured centre-back Isak Hien and Daniel Maldini.

Gian Piero Gasperini has Ademola Lookman at his disposal after the striker's recent injury problems, but it remains to be seen whether the midweek controversy will affect his selection. With Lookman on the pitch, the Bergamaschi have won 68% of their league games this season, averaging 2.3 goals per game, while without him their win rate drops to 33%, averaging 1.8 goals per game.

Meanwhile, only Mohamed Salah has scored more away goals than La Dea's main marksman Mateo Retegui (12, level with Robert Lewandowski) in Europe's top five leagues. The Capocannoniere leader has scored six goals in his last two away games, including four against Hellas Verona.

Empoli will be without several defenders as Saba Sazonov and Tyronne Ebuehi are long-term absentees, while Mattia Viti and Ardian Ismajli could also miss out, while Luca Marianucci remains suspended.

Ola Solbakken, Pietro Pellegri and Nicolas Haas are also unavailable, while Tino Anjorin and Jacopo Fazzini have yet to resume full training.

Sebastiano Esposito, one goal shy of double figures in Serie A this season, and goalkeeper Devis Vasquez will be hoping to replace Christian Kouame and Marco Silvestri respectively.

Possible starting lineup

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Pezzella; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Cacace; Esposito, Colombo

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Carnesecchi; Posch, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Samardzic; De Ketelaere, Retegui