Atalanta drew 2-2 with Empoli at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in Bergamo on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.
Riccardo Saponara put the Azzurri ahead before half-time, Alejandro Gomez equalised for La Dea just minutes later, Massimo Maccarone gave Empoli a 2-1 lead only for German Denis to equalise at the death.
Matias Vecino took a weak long-range shot for the Tuscans and then Atalanta winger Marcelo Estigarribia pounced on a loose ball and volleyed straight at Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Sepe.
Saponara had a shot saved by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello but he sprayed the rebound. The Empoli trequartista had other chances to score when he slid-in and the ball went straight at Sportiello and then a weak, angled drive of his went wide.
Maxi Moralez had a shot for Atalanta but it posed no threat. Empoli had chances to score through Daniele Rugani, Mirko Valdifiori and Saponara but still couldn’t find a breakthough.
Empoli took the lead after 41 minutes thanks to Saponara. He received the ball from Valdifiori, ran towards the penalty box, played a successful one-two with Manuel Pucciarelli despite a Guglielmo Stendardo deflection and then he powerfully side-footed the ball into the top right corner.
The lead only lasted for two minutes as Atalanta levelled the scores through Gomez. After receiving the ball in his own half, he dribbled at pace, passed to Moralez who made a diagonal run and then Moralez unselfishly passed the ball to Gomez who just had Sepe to beat.
Massimo Maccarone nearly restored Empoli’s lead with a header but Sportiello saved it and Pucciarelli put the rebound over the bar.
Daniele Croce had a chance for the Tuscans after cutting-in from the left-wing but Atalanta were the better team early in the second half. Maxi Moralez in particular looked dangerous on the left-wing.
Estigarribia nearly put the Orobici 2-1 up but his shot was blocked teammate German Denis, who had slipped just seconds earlier, then Carlos Carmona shot over the bar and Luca Cigarini’s free-kick was easily caught by Sepe. Saponara blasted a shot over the bar for Empoli.
The Tuscans regained the lead on 60 minutes. Saponara dribbled, he passed to Croce who crossed low from the left-wing, substitute Piotr Zielinski took a slight touch and Maccarone side-footed the ball into the net at the far post.
Cigarini received a yellow card for simulation after he fell in the penalty box and then Vecino went on a little run and shot over the bar.
Maccarone nearly made it 3-1 for Empoli but his shot was deflected onto one of the posts by Sportiello.
Denis had two chances to score for La Dea. After a Stendardo turn and shot, he tried to get the loose ball but Sepe got it first and then he side-footed a shot over the crossbar.
Ronaldo Bianchi looked dangerous when he came on for Atalanta and he could have equalised with a bicycle kick but the shot was off-target.
Zielinski should have made it 3-1 to Empoli after making a dazzling solo run but his shot went wide at the near post. Urby Emanuelson could have equalised for Atalanta but his shot went wide.
Denis managed to level the scores in stoppage with a looping header after a corner, which Sportiello even went up for.
