Serie A line-ups: Atalanta vs. Empoli
Lazar Samardzic of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team's sixth goal with teammate Mateo Retegui during the Coppa Italia match between Atalanta and Cesena at Allianz Stadium on December 18, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Atalanta must do without Marten de Roon, but Mateo Retegui and Ademola Lookman start against impressive Empoli as they seek an 11th straight Serie A victory for top spot.
It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 17.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.
La Dea are one of the form teams in Europe at the moment, let alone in Italy, winning a club record 10 consecutive Serie A matches.
However, with Napoli’s victory yesterday, they need all three points to keep hold of the leadership.
De Roon is suspended with Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini injured, so Mario Pasalic steps into the midfield slot.
Retegui is trying to rediscover his form and cling on to the Capocannoniere status, supported today by African Player of the Year Lookman and Belgium international Charles De Ketelaere.
Atalanta were also in action on Wednesday for the Coppa Italia, thrashing Serie B side Cesena 6-1.
As with every year, they are wearing a special edition Christmas kit for the last game before the festivities.
epa11764793 Empoli’s Sebastiano Esposito celebrates after scoring the 0-2 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Empoli FC in Verona, Italy, 08 December 2024. EPA-EFE/Emanuele PennnacchioEmpoli are a bit of an unpredictable side, winning 4-1 away to Hellas Verona and then a few days later losing 1-0 at home to Torino.
Mattia De Sciglio is suspended, with Pietro Pellegri, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov and Tyronne Ebuehi all long-term injury absentees.
The good news for coach Roberto D’Aversa is the return of Liam Henderson from a ban, with Jacopo Fazzini only fit for the bench.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Retegui, Lookman
Empoli: Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Pezzella; Gyasi, Anjorin, Grassi, Cacace; Henderson, Esposito; Colombo
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