Atalanta got back on track with Hans Hateboer and a wonderful Ademola Lookman solo effort, despite Teun Koopmeiners seeing his penalty saved by Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
La Dea were fresh from their first defeat of the season, with Luis Muriel suspended, Marten de Roon and Davide Zappacosta injured, plus Duvan Zapata not fully fit, but Juan Musso and Rafael Toloi returned after long lay-offs. Empoli were also coming off a 4-0 loss to Juventus, still missing Alberto Grassi and Lorenzo Tonelli.
Mattia Destro’s lob landed on the roof of the net, then Vicario got down to fingertip an Ademola Lookman low cross-shot just beyond Rasmus Hojlund’s attempted tap-in.
Ederson had a triple chance, denied from point-blank range twice by Vicario and a defender at the third attempt.
Atalanta did break through when Teun Koopmeiners pulled back from the by-line for Lookman, his shot was charged down, but fell to Hans Hateboer at the back post.
Merih Demiral made a desperate block to prevent Tyronne Ebuehi equalising from 12 yards, then deflected a Liberato Cacace run and strike wide for a corner too.
There was controversy just before half-time, as the referee awarded a penalty for Mattia Destro charging down a Lookman free kick with his elbow. It was a debatable decision, as he at best jutted out an elbow and had his hand on his stomach, but also moved it towards the ball. Nonetheless, Koopmeiners saw his spot-kick parried by Vicario, who stuck up a trailing leg to keep it out.
Marko Pjaca’s curler was smothered, while Hojlund threatened on a through ball, but Lookman doubled Atalanta’s lead with a wonderful solo effort. He dribbled past four defenders in the box looking for the right gap to drill low into the near bottom corner.
Destro skimmed the bar and Duvan Zapata had the ball in the net only after Lookman had wandered offside on the assist.
Lookman was denied his second by Vicario after Empoli gave the ball away cheaply, then the offside flag was up for Ebuehi’s header from point-blank range after a corner.
Rafael Toloi drilled wide on the counter-attack after winning the ball back in midfield.
Empoli 0-2 Atalanta
Hateboer 32 (A), Lookman 59 (A)
Saved penalty: Koopmeiners 42 (A)