Nigeria Players Abroad
Ademola Lookman stars with brace in Atalanta victory at leaders Napoli
Published
2 weeks agoon
By: Monsurah Olatunji
Nigeria international Ademola Lookman delivered an outstanding performance, scoring two goals as Atalanta cruised to a 3-0 win over a Victor Osimhen-less Napoli in Serie A on Sunday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Lookman’s first-half brace highlighted his exceptional form, bringing his tally to six goals in seven starts this season.
His impressive performances have also positioned him among the league’s top assist providers. On Monday, he achieved a significant milestone by ranking 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or standings.
The Super Eagles star opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a powerful left-footed volley, expertly executed from inside the box after a flicked header from Charles De Ketelaere.
Lookman struck again in the 31st minute, receiving the ball from De Ketelaere after a clever run through Napoli’s midfield. He took on defender Amir Rrahmani and sent a shot past goalkeeper Alex Meret, who could only deflect the ball into the net.
Lookman was substituted in the 76th minute for Matteo Retegui, who capped off the decisive win with a third goal in stoppage time. This victory propelled Atalanta to second place in the Serie A standings with 22 points, just three behind Napoli.
With his brace, Lookman reached his 16th goal of the year, making him the Serie A player with the most goal contributions for 2024.