In the rearranged fixture of matchday 18 of the 2020-2021 Primavera 1 TIM championship, coach Brambilla’s Atalanta get three extremely heavy points by beating Empoli 2-1 at the Monteboro Training Centre in Empoli. This win allows the Nerazzurri to climb up to fifth place on 37 points, pulling ahead of the Tuscans precisely.

The first attempts of the game came off Empoli. Klimavicius’s left-foot angled drive in the 10th minute was off target, Belardinelli’s header from Rizza’s cross went inches wide. The best chance arrived in the 23rd minute, as Belardinelli stroke the bar with a great shot from the edge of the box. The Nerazzurri grew into the game, though. On 26 Rosa knocked back for Ghislandi, who fired over with his left foot. Ghislandi – who was the captain today due to Cortinovis’s absence – saw another of his efforts blocked by Hvalic after he skipped past a defender on 34. The game was unlocked in the 37th minute: Ghislandi ran forward on the right and then crossed for Rosa’s header, which gave the lead to the Nerazzurri. This was Rosa’s third goal in a row.

In the second half, Empoli immediately threatened on 46 when Klimavicius stroke the upper part of the crossbar with his finish. However, Atalanta doubled their lead through Sidibe on 63, as he did well to turn Italeng’s overhead kick into the roof of the net. Then the Nerazzurri managed well their lead without taking risks, until the 90th minute and Ekong’s goal after a corner kick. The next fixture is scheduled for Monday 17 May against Sassuolo at the Bortolotti Training Centre in Zingonia.

EMPOLI 1-2 ATALANTA

Scorers: Rosa 37 (A), A. Sidibe 63 (A), Ekong 90 (E)

Empoli: Hvalic, Donati, Rizza, Asllani, Siniega, Pezzola, Lipari (Bozhanaj 56), Belardinelli, Klimavicius (Ekong 67), Baldanzi (Lombardi 78), Degli Innocenti (Fazzini 67). Bench: Biagini, Riccioni, Fradella, Morelli, Indragoli, Toccafondi, Manfredi, S. Sidibe. Coach: Antonio Buscè.

Atalanta: Dajcar, Ghislandi, Ceresoli, Giovane (Panada 81), Cittadini (Scanagatta 46), Scalvini, G. Renault, Gyabuaa, Rosa (De Nipoti 78), A. Sidibe, Italeng (Kobacki 86). Bench: Sassi, Grassi, Berto, Hecko. Coach: Massimo Brambilla.

Referee: Mario Perri from Roma 1 (assistants Lorenzo D’Ilario from Tivoli and Franco Iacovacci from Latina).

Notes: Ekong (E), Italeng (A), Gyabuaa (A) booked.