Atalanta’s 3-2 victory over Empoli was overshadowed by a significant setback as star striker Mateo Retegui was forced off the pitch early due to a muscle injury. The incident occurred just 21 minutes into the match at the Gewiss Stadium, leaving coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the team with concerns as they head into a crucial stretch of the season.
Retegui, who has been a key figure for both Atalanta and the Italian national team, pulled up while attempting to link play in midfield. He immediately signaled discomfort, clutching his left thigh near the rectus femoris muscle. Without trying to continue, the forward requested medical attention and lay down on the pitch, visibly frustrated.
The injury prompted an immediate substitution, with Nicolò Zaniolo called upon to replace Retegui. However, Zaniolo was caught unprepared on the bench, entering the game without his boots fully ready. Despite coming on cold, Zaniolo quickly adjusted to the pace of the match, though he received a yellow card within 60 seconds for stepping on Sebastiano Esposito’s foot.
Retegui, meanwhile, left the field dejected and took his place on the bench, visibly disappointed as he watched his teammates continue without him.
Atalanta now face a potentially difficult situation, depending on the severity of Retegui’s injury. With several key fixtures looming, including a Serie A clash against Lazio in Rome on December 28 and a Supercoppa Italiana semifinal against Inter on January 2 in Riyadh, losing their top scorer could be a major blow. The Bergamo side will also face Udinese on January 11 before hosting Juventus and Napoli in back-to-back matches on January 14 and 18.
Retegui has been instrumental for Atalanta this season, leading Serie A with 12 goals. However, he has not scored since November 23 in a win against Parma. The club will now await further medical evaluations to determine how long their star striker will be sidelined.
As Atalanta continues their push for success in both domestic and international competitions, Gasperini will need to rely on other attacking options like Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman to fill the void left by Retegui’s absence. The team remains hopeful that the injury is not severe and that their talisman can return to action soon.
