Lookman Scores As Atalanta Reclaims Serie A Top Spot With Win Over Empoli

Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, scored as Atalanta climbed back to the top of the Serie A standings with a 3-2 victory over Empoli at home on Sunday.

Charles De Ketelaere scored twice for Atalanta in the thrilling match, with his second goal proving to be the winner in the 86th minute.

Lookman also found the back of the net, ensuring Gian Piero Gasperini’s side moved past Napoli into the top spot in the league.

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Atalanta restored their two-point lead over Napoli, who had briefly moved ahead following their 2-1 win at Genoa on Saturday.

Empoli, currently in 11th place, took the lead in the 13th minute through Lorenzo Colombo at Gewiss Stadium.

However, De Ketelaere equalized for Atalanta just before the half-hour mark.

Lookman, recently crowned African Player of the Year, scored his 12th goal of the season in first-half stoppage time, putting Atalanta ahead.

Empoli responded in the 57th minute when Sebastiano Esposito converted a penalty.

As the match appeared to be heading for a draw, De Ketelaere secured all three points for Atalanta with a composed strike in the 86th minute, firing a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.

In other Serie A action, Roma bounced back from a surprising 2-0 loss to Como last weekend to thrash Parma 5-0 in the Italian capital.

Paulo Dybala scored twice, with additional goals from Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Paredes, and Artem Dovbyk. The victory lifted Roma to 10th place in the standings, while Parma remained just above the relegation zone in 16th.

Dybala converted a penalty in the 10th minute, and Saelemaekers added another with a volley to give Roma a 2-0 lead early in the match. Dybala scored again six minutes after the break, before Paredes extended the lead with a 74th-minute penalty. Dovbyk sealed the win with a late goal.

Venezia climbed off the bottom of the table with a crucial 2-1 win over fellow relegation battlers Cagliari.

Francesco Zampano and Marin Sverko scored for Venezia, with Leonardo Pavoletti pulling one back for Cagliari in the final 15 minutes.