German Denis has been handed a five-match ban, ruling him out of the majority of Atalanta's remaining games in Serie A this season.
Atalanta's attempts to beat the drop in Serie A have taken a blow with top scorer German Denis receiving a five-match ban for attacking an opponent after Sunday's draw with Empoli.
Denis scored a 93rd-minute equalizer on Sunday to preserve Atalanta's seven-point cushion over the bottom three, but his contribution to the club's run-in will be limited.
A Serie A tribunal found that Denis had reacted furiously to threats from Empoli defender Lorenzo Tonelli, who is alleged to have told the Argentinian: "I'll kill you and your family.