Atalanta combines 3rd location in Serie A as race for
MILAN (AP)– Atalanta consolidated third location in Serie A on Sunday, while the race for the final Champions League area behind it heated up.Charles De Ketelaere discovered the back of the web in the league for the very first time in 2025 with a first-half double to assist set Atalanta on its way to a 4-0 win at Monza.Monza, which
was rooted to the bottom of the table and had actually looked doomed for months, was mathematically relegated as the result left it 12 points from security with 3 rounds remaining.De Ketelaere had not scored in Serie A since December– a run of 16 matches– however ended his dry spell in great style in the 12th minute, controlling a ball from Mateo Retegui before beating 2 guys and drilling into the near bottom corner.Monza showed why it is getting relegated 11 minutes later.
Gaetano Castrovilli handled to intercept Retegui’s return pass towards Ademola Lookman but the Monza midfielder and teammate Pedro Pereira both simply looked at the ball, allowing De Ketelaere to pounce and prod it into the bottom left corner.Castrovilli believed he had actually atoned for his error when he headed home on the stroke
of halftime but it was dismissed for offside.Atalanta extended its lead instantly after the break when Retegui headed on a long ball over the top and Lookman beat Stefan Lekovic, who had only just come on, and raced into the area to fire past Semuel Pizzignacco.Substitute Marco Brescianini topped a dominant Atalanta performance with a fourth, 2 minutes from time.Champions League race Lazio moved momentarily into 4th
location with a 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Empoli.Boulaye Dia scored the only goal after just 54 seconds and both groups ended the match
with 10 men.Empoli forward Lorenzo Colombo was sent soon before halftime after two reservations in the area of 4 minutes and Lazio defender Elseid Hysaj was dismissed in the 76th minute following a second yellow card.Empoli stayed 2 points from security while
Lazio leapfrogged a point above Juventus and two above Bologna ahead of the important match between those 2 teams later Sunday.Lazio hosts Juventus next Saturday.There was another direct battle on Sunday as Roma was set to play Fiorentina, with the 2 teams sitting simply
3 and four points, respectively, listed below 4th location. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer