Atalanta’s Retegui Suffers Injury Setback in Week 17 Match

Atalanta’s top scorer Mateo Retegui was forced to exit the match against Empoli after just 21 minutes due to an apparent muscle injury. This setback occurred as Atalanta aimed to secure their 11th consecutive Serie A victory and maintain their position atop the league standings.

The match began unfavorably for Atalanta, with Empoli taking an early lead in the 13th minute through Lorenzo Colombo, who capitalized on poor defending from a throw-in. Shortly after, Retegui was seen clutching his left thigh before being substituted off the pitch.

The injury raises concerns not only for Atalanta but also for the Italian national team. Retegui’s availability for Atalanta’s upcoming fixture against Lazio on December 28 is now in doubt. Despite being Serie A’s leading goalscorer with 12 goals, Retegui has not found the net since November 23 in a 3-1 victory over Parma.

Nicolò Zaniolo replaced the injured Retegui, quickly making his presence felt by receiving a yellow card within a minute of entering the game. The extent of Retegui’s injury and his potential recovery timeline remain to be determined, leaving Atalanta and Italy anxiously awaiting further updates on the striker’s condition.