Newly topped African Footballer of The Life Ademola Lookman marked his go back to Atalanta’s launch lineup with a a very powerful function of their 3-2 victory over Empoli on Sunday, serving to lengthen Los angeles Dea’s manage on the Serie A top to 2 issues, PUNCH Sports activities Remaining stories.
The Nigeria global, who paraded his CAF award earlier than kick-off on the Gewiss Stadium, netted simply earlier than half-time to position Atalanta 2-1 forward next falling in the back of to an early Lorenzo Colombo collision.
“Hungrier than ever. Big win,” Lookman wrote on social media next the fit, which prolonged Atalanta’s membership file successful streak to 11 consecutive Serie A victories.
The 27-year-old has been in scintillating mode this season, with 9 targets and 4 assists in 14 league appearances. His total tally stands at 12 targets and 5 assists throughout all competitions.
His function towards Empoli got here at a a very powerful generation, with the ahead changing from a decent perspective next Nicolò Zaniolo nodded indisposed Charles De Ketelaere’s pass simply earlier than the break.
The collision proved necessary as Empoli would next equalise from the penalty spot earlier than De Ketelaere’s winner join all 3 issues for the league leaders.
Atalanta supervisor Gian Piero Gasperini praised his crew’s resilience next the hard-fought win.
“I think it all comes from our energy and team spirit. Even when it’s not our best day, we still have the belief we can win to the last minute. That mentality makes the difference, we never give in,” Gasperini stated.
“We fought back against a team that came here to play good football. Despite all that, we showed character and the desire to win. It was a deserved victory in the end.”
The win guarantees Atalanta will spend Christmas on the Serie A top for the primary occasion of their 116-year historical past, proceeding their impressive marketing campaign following an important 2023/24 that noticed them declare their first Eu trophy thru Lookman’s ancient hat-trick towards Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin.
“Now we are top of the table for Christmas, it’s an extraordinary result. We hope 2025 can be as wonderful as 2024, but we’ve got to keep this mentality going,” Gasperini added.
Lookman’s important performances have evident his store get up significantly, together with his marketplace price leaping from €30m on the finish of 2023 to €55m, making him Nigeria’s 2nd maximum reliable participant in the back of Victor Osimhen.
His impressive yr incorporated 3 targets and two assists as Nigeria reached the Africa Cup of International locations ultimate in February, time his Europa League heroics in Might helped cement his position amongst soccer’s elite, culminating in a 14th-place end within the 2024 Ballon d’Or scores.
The ahead’s triumph on the CAF Awards made him the 7th Nigerian to win the distinguished praise, following within the footsteps of Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, and Osimhen.
His persevered excellence has attracted pastime from a number of Eu giants, with Liverpool not too long ago eye an means unfavourable through Atalanta, who’re enthusiastic to conserve their talisman.
“Our plan is not to change anything in the January window,” Atalanta President Antonio Percassi not too long ago mentioned amid rising hypothesis about Lookman’s pace.
The Nigerian’s fast center of attention remainder on keeping up Atalanta’s impressive run as they effort to store their first-ever Serie A identify, having already made historical past through qualifying for the Champions League and successful the Europa League in 2024.