Empoli boosted their hopes of securing UEFA Cup football for next season with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta at the Carlo Castellani stadium overnight.

Luca Saudati's strike 10 minutes before half-time set the hosts on their way, with Sergio Almiron wrapping up the points nine minutes after the interval.

Gianpaolo Bellini had received his marching orders for a second bookable offence a minute before the break, leaving the visitors to play the entire second half with 10 men.

Empoli could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty midway through the second period, Almiron's effort well kept out by Alex Calderoni.

The result sees the azzurri move level on points with fifth-placed Palermo.

Atalanta, meanwhile, slip a spot to ninth in the Serie A standings after the defeat and Udinese's 1-0 triumph over Sampdoria.

Empoli created numerous chances in the first half, with Atalanta having to settle for the occasional counter-attack.

Ighli Vannucchi fired a right-footed shot wide from outside the penalty area after two minutes, and tried his luck again four minutes later but saw his effort comfortably blocked by Atalanta keeper Calderoni.

Empoli stopper Davide Bassi was called into action for the first time after 11 minutes, easily keeping out Bellini's long-range left-footed strike.

Back at the other end, Davide Moro provided a cross from the right which was met by the head of Almiron in the centre, but he could only nod wide of Calderoni's left-hand upright.

Calderoni made a decent save low to his left after 20 minutes to deny Antonio Busce after good work by Saudati.

Nicola Pozzi came within a whisker of giving Empoli the lead just before the half-hour mark when his stinging drive following Almiron's pass struck the right post.

The home fans did not have to wait much longer for their side to go ahead, though, with Saudati latching onto Vannucchi's cross and slotting into the bottom-right corner six minutes later.

Vannucchi passed up a glorious chance to double his team's advantage after 38 minutes, shooting over the bar after being teed up by Francesco Pratali.

Pratali was again the provider shortly afterwards, this time for Almiron to have a right-footed shot, but Calderoni kept it out.

Bellini was then shown a red card after a professional foul to send Atalanta in at the break not only a goal down but a man down too.

Undeterred, the visitors came close to restoring parity at the start of the second period, but a diving Bassi managed to claw away Marino Defendi's downward header from a tight angle.

And, five minutes later, the Bergamaschi found themselves two down when Busce's cross found Almiron, who made no mistake from close range.

Almiron passed up the chance to bag his second of the afternoon midway through the second half when he saw his spot-kick saved by Calderoni.

Christian Vieri, after 13 months out through injury, made his long-awaited return as a 71st-minute substitute for Nicola Ventola for Atalanta.

Vieri almost made an immediate impact with a left-footed shot from outside the area, but Bassi again was alert to the danger.

A diving Bassi was again on hand to preserve his clean sheet by keeping out Giulio Migliaccio's shot from the right-hand side of the box.

The final opportunity of the match fell to Luigi Cagni's European hopefuls and, although Busce could only drill wide after a fast breakaway from Pozzi, the points were already safely in the bag.