Gianluca Scamacca scored two, assisted another for Teun Koopmeiners and rattled the woodwork twice as Atalanta dominated Empoli.
The Tuscans caused a shock last Monday beating Fiorentina 2-0 away from home, but were forced to do without Tommaso Baldanzi, Mattia Destro and Giuseppe Pezzella. La Dea missed Davide Zappacosta and El Bilal Toure, though Koopmeiners returned in Thursday’s Europa League draw away to Sturm Graz.
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Italy coach Luciano Spalletti was in the stands and the win allowed Atalanta to leapfrog reigning champions Napoli.
It took under five minutes to break through, as Ademola Lookman’s through ball found Scamacca, who seemed to be going too wide to score, but drew out the goalkeeper to nutmeg him with a back-heel flick from six yards.
Scamacca almost got another soon after, his shot with the inside of the right foot thumping the base of the upright.
The Italy international had the ball in the net on 20 minutes with a header, but the goal was disallowed for an earlier offside position in the build-up.
Berisha was forced into tricky saves on another Scamacca header and the Matteo Ruggeri low drive from outside the box, but was beaten by the Teun Koopmeiners daisy-cutter from the edge of the area on a Scamacca assist, finishing off a long passing move.
Nicolò Cambiaghi had penalty appeals waved away when he went down too easily under pressure from Ruggeri, then Giorgio Scalvini went off with a back problem at half-time.
Scamacca completed his brace with a ferocious low drive into the near bottom corner, taking Berisha by surprise after it was given away playing out from the back.
Scamacca also prodded over from six yards on a fumbled corner, while Juan Musso used his chest to charge down the Cambiaghi counter-attack and powerful finish from 10 yards.
It could comfortably have been more than a hat-trick for Scamacca, whose long-range screamer smashed against the crossbar, having already hit the upright in the first half.
Jacopo Fazzini saw his effort deflected wide for Empoli, but was unable to get a consolation goal.
Empoli 0-3 Atalanta
Scamacca 5, 51 (A), Koopmeiners 29 (A)