,
Matchday 29
TOR
TOR
PAR
PAR
DAZN | SKY
,
Matchday 29
INT
INT
ATA
ATA
DAZN
,
Matchday 29
NAP
NAP
LEC
LEC
DAZN
,
Matchday 29
UDI
UDI
JUV
JUV
DAZN | SKY
,
Matchday 29
VER
VER
GEN
GEN
DAZN
,
Matchday 29
PIS
PIS
CAG
CAG
DAZN
,
Matchday 29
SAS
SAS
BOL
BOL
DAZN
,
Matchday 29
COM
COM
ROM
ROM
DAZN | SKY
,
Matchday 29
LAZ
LAZ
MIL
MIL
DAZN
,
Matchday 29
CRE
CRE
FIO
FIO
DAZN
Atalanta hoping to remain top by beating Empoli
Serie A

Atalanta hoping to remain top by beating Empoli

Atalanta are on the hunt for their eleventh consecutive win, while Empoli need points to stay clear of the relegation zone

Next up for league leaders Atalanta is a clash against Empoli at 18:00 CET at the Gewiss Stadium La Dea are aiming for their eleventh league win in a row, a result that would keep them top of the table. However, Empoli want to put an end to Atalanta’s run and add points to their tally to avoid being dragged into the relegation battle.

HEAD TO HEAD

Atalanta have won their last four league matches against Empoli (with an aggregate score of 9-1), as many victories as they had in their previous 10 games against the Tuscans in Serie A (D4 L2). Atalanta have avoided defeat in 11 of their 12 home games against Empoli in Serie A (W6 D5) and could record three home wins in a row against the Azzurri for the first time in the top-flight. The only Tuscans' away success against the Dea in the tournament was on 21 May 2022 (0-1 with a goal from Leo Stulac).

DID YOU KNOW?

Atalanta have won 10 games in a row for the first time in their Serie A history. La Dea also remained top of the table for at least two matchdays in a row for the first time in Serie A history. Atalanta have drawn only one of their last 23 home league games (W17 D5): 2-2 against Hellas Verona on last 15 April. In that period, the Dea scored 59 goals at the Gewiss Stadium in Serie A (2.6 on average per game). This sees the team that has scored the most headed goals this Serie A season (Atalanta, eight) face one of the three teams with the fewest headed goals (Empoli, one – equal to Fiorentina and Como).

PLAYERS

Nicolò Zaniolo could score in three appearances in a row for only the second time in Serie A, after October/November 2019. His last goal at home in a Serie A match dates back to 2 November 2019 in Roma- Napoli 2-1 - since then all of his eight goals in the tournament have been scored away from home. Raoul Bellanova and Charles De Ketelaere are two of the three players, together with Rafael Leão, to have provided the highest number of assists in the 2024 calendar year in Serie A: nine. Sebastiano Esposito's four goals and Lorenzo Colombo's three goals this league season have all come away. In fact, considering only the results away from home, Empoli have gained 12 points in eight matches, only five teams have done better in the current championship (Atalanta, Napoli, Inter, Fiorentina and Juventus).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: De Roon (Atalanta); De Sciglio (Empoli) Cautioned: Grassi (Empoli)

REFEREE

FELICIANI (COSTANZO – PERROTTI) IV: ARENA, VAR: GHERSINI, AVAR: DOVERI

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Lazio-Atalanta (Saturday 28 December, 20:45 CET) Empoli-Genoa (Saturday 28 December, 15:00 CET) (Photo Getty Images)