Before kickoff, there was a moment of honor for Ademola Lookman, the newly crowned African Player of the Year, as he paraded his CAF Men’s Best Player of the Year Award before the Atalanta faithful in the Gewiss Stadium.

Lorenzo Colombo put Empoli ahead to the surprise of the hosts in the 13th minute with a volley after a cross from Liam Henderson. Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Atalanta in the 34th minute with a well-taken header.

Lookman proved why he is the best player in the African continent when he gave Atalanta the lead in first-half stoppage time.

Empoli was presented with an opportunity to draw level 12 minutes after the restart after Berat Djimsiti brought down Alberto Grassi in an attempt to get the ball. Sebastiano Esposito stepped up and put it straight down the middle, sending Marco Carnesecchi the wrong way.

It looked like Empoli were heading home with a point until De Ketelaere drilled around the Atalanta defense before firing a low shot from the right side into the bottom corner of the post.

After the game, Atalanta’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised Charles De Ketelaere’s ability: “He gained confidence and improved his heading ability, as he showed today. The second goal is truly extraordinary, coming from a wide position.”

It is Atalanta’s 11th consecutive win in the Serie A. The Nerazzurri are top of the Serie A with 40 points, two clear of Napoli, and have scored 42 goals in the league this season.