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Atalanta secured a morale-boosting victory that sends Empoli crashing to a fourth consecutive defeat.
These two sides were battling to get back on track after a slide of poor results. The Orobici were heading into mid-table obscurity, but the pressure was really on Empoli following three straight defeats that left them in the drop zone. Moris Carrozzieri and Maximiliano Pellegrino were suspended, while Nicola Pozzi is sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.
Empoli were undefeated here in Serie A since 1998, but had never won at the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia either.
Ferreira Pinto's early snapshot was smothered, but Atalanta opened the scoring with their first real opportunity. Antonio Langella burst through from six yards for a powerful header on a Belleri cross from the right.
Empoli went very close to an equaliser moments later, but Sebastian Giovinco's angled drive flashed across the face of goal.
However, the Tuscan defence fell apart when Sergio Floccari held up the ball for Cristiano Doni to waltz through undisturbed.
Jose Leonardo Talamonti was lucky to escape a red card, as he was already booked when he tugged Giovinco's shirt. Francesco Pratali was also fortunate as he protested against a refereeing decision by taking off his shirt and pretending to walk off, earning only a yellow.
Into the second half Empoli finally threatened, as Ferdinando Coppola flew to palm a deflected Budel effort out from under the bar with a crucial reaction save.
But it was all Atalanta as Bassi performed a fine save to deny Ferreira Pinto and on 77 minutes Simone Padoin made it 3-0. Floccari drew three defenders and intelligently flicked a pass through so Padoin was clear on goal to waltz round the 'keeper.
Empoli got a late consolation with Ighli Vannucchi's spectacular goal. The ball ricocheted around the box and he spun round between two defenders to volley in at the near post.
It lasted 60 seconds before Padoin bagged his brace, volleying in at the back post totally unmarked from a Ferreira Pinto cross.
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