Serie A: Atalanta Come from Behind to Beat Empoli 3-2 and Stay Top

Atalanta remained at the summit of Serie A after Charles De Ketelaere's two goals sealed a 3-2 comeback victory over Empoli.

Charles De Ketelaere scored a brilliant brace to complete a stunning comeback, securing Atalanta's 11th consecutive Serie A victory with a 3-2 win over Empoli. This triumph enabled Atalanta to spend Christmas at the top of the table.

Atalanta were riding a club-record winning streak and required all three points to maintain their top spot, following Napoli's victory on Saturday. However, they faced several challenges, as Marten de Roon was suspended, while Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca were sidelined due to injuries.

Devis Vasquez produced a spectacular save to deny Atalanta the lead, acrobatically clawing Sead Kolasinac's powerful header out of the near top corner from a free-kick situation. Vasquez's desperation save saw him slap the ball onto the upright, preventing a certain goal.

Atalanta eventually found the equalizer through Charles De Ketelaere, who scored with a diving header from 12 yards out. The opportunity arose when Davide Zappacosta's cross sailed over Nicolò Zaniolo, finding De Ketelaere perfectly positioned to meet the ball with a precise header into the near bottom corner.

Berat Djimsiti came agonizingly close to giving Atalanta the lead, as his towering header from a De Ketelaere free-kick bounced off the base of the far post. The frame of the goal was rattled, but Empoli's defense managed to withstand the pressure, at least temporarily.

Empoli, meanwhile, had their own share of absentees, with Mattia De Sciglio serving a ban and Pietro Pellegri, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov, and Tyronne Ebuehi dealing with long-term injuries. Nevertheless, the team received a boost with Liam Henderson's return from suspension.

Empoli caught Atalanta off guard, scoring a surprise opening goal. The opportunity arose from a throw-in, which Henderson cleverly utilized, sprinting down the by-line and delivering a precise pass to Lorenzo Colombo. Colombo then volleyed the ball into the net from eight yards, aided by a slight deflection.

The hosts suffered another setback just 21 minutes into the match, as Mateo Retegui was forced off the field due to a muscular injury. Nicolò Zaniolo replaced Retegui, but his introduction was marred by a booking just 60 seconds later. Zaniolo received the yellow card for treading on Sebastiano Esposito's foot, a reckless challenge that earned him an early warning from the referee.

Atalanta seized the initiative on the cusp of halftime, turning the match around with a well-crafted goal. Charles De Ketelaere delivered a precise cross from the left, which Nicolò Zaniolo expertly nodded down into the path of Ademola Lookman. Lookman controlled the ball with a touch before unleashing a powerful shot from a challenging angle, securing a crucial lead for Atalanta.

The second half witnessed several close calls, as both teams pushed for further goals. De Ketelaere's cross-shot and an Ederson effort both grazed the far post, narrowly missing the target. However, Empoli's persistence paid off when they were awarded a penalty following a VAR review. The decision was made after Berat Djimsiti was deemed to have caught Alberto Grassi's boot as he fell. Sebastiano Esposito stepped up to convert the penalty with conviction, momentarily restoring parity.

In a thrilling conclusion, Charles De Ketelaere proved to be the match-winner, scoring his second goal of the game with a moment of individual brilliance. Collecting the ball on the right flank, De Ketelaere cut inside, effortlessly dribbling past four Empoli defenders before unleashing a precise left-footed shot into the near bottom corner from just inside the penalty area. This stunning strike secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory for Atalanta.