Third-placed Atalanta cruised to a 5-0 win at lowly Empoli with Ademola Lookman scoring a brilliant double with a goal in each half on Sunday to reignite their bid for the Serie A title.
A month ago the battle for the Scudetto looked like becoming a two-horse race between Napoli and Inter Milan but indifferent results for both sides have allowed Atalanta to narrow the gap.
Atalanta now have 54 points, three behind leaders Inter and two off Napoli with 12 rounds of matches remaining.
With Napoli suffering a surprise 2-1 loss at Como earlier on Sunday and Inter losing twice in four matches, Atalanta had the chance to keep the pressure on and dominated from the start.
Nerazzurri a 🖐️ stelle 💫
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 23, 2025
A five-star display from these lads 🌟🙌@acqua_lete | #EmpoliAtalanta 0-5 FT #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/ilKeU9PEZW
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with an own goal after Davide Zappacosta delivered a cross from the edge of the box which deflected off Empoli striker Emmanuel Gyasi and looped into the corner of the net.
Atalanta then began to dominate the match with Mateo Retegui doubling the lead six minutes later before Lookman made it 3-0 in the 43rd when he latched onto a through ball, deftly rounded goalkeeper Marco Silvestri and put the ball into the empty net.
Ten minutes after the break Lookman got his second, latching onto a through ball from Marten de Roon, evading the offside trap and firing an angled shot past the keeper after a step-over. Zappacosta completed the rout in the 74th minute.
Zappacosta was hesitant to talk about the title race.
Avanti, insieme 👏🖤💙#EmpoliAtalanta #GoAtalantaGo pic.twitter.com/EeU5Gvn1OG
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 23, 2025
"There's no point right now thinking of long-term objectives. We have to take it one game at a time," he told DAZN.
"A victory that gives us fuel and morale after a difficult last week," he added, referring to being knocked out of the Champions League with a 3-1 defeat by Club Brugge on Tuesday.
LOOKMAN RESPONDS
Lookman's performance showed the right response following his recent spat with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who said the Nigeria striker was one of the worst penalty takers he had ever seen after he missed one against Brugge.
Gasperini later downplayed the comment saying he never intended to offend the 27-year-old, who also scored against the Belgian side after coming on at halftime.
Against Empoli, Lookman caused chaos for the home defence, playing a pivotal role in the build-up to Retegui's goal, and was a stand-out performer in Atalanta's dominant victory.
MVP smile 😄🏆⭐️ #EmpoliAtalanta #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/k77jJJZwxB
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 23, 2025
Sky Sport Italia asked if he had put the criticism from Gasperini behind him but Lookman was reluctant to comment.
After a shrug and a glance around, he replied, "Finished?" before shifting the discussion to Atalanta's display.
"The team won 5-0 today, we put in a good performance, everyone was at a high level and we showed quality," he said.
The result leaves Empoli third-bottom in the standings on 21 points, two points below the safety zone.