)
The Nigerian international was again the star as La Dea progressed to the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia.
Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman picked up from where he left on Sunday after scoring another brace in Atalanta’s 5-2 win over Spezia in the Coppa Italia clash between the two sides at the Gewiss Stadium.
Lookman had scored twice in Atalanta’s 8-2 demolition of Salernitana in their Italian Serie A fixture on Sunday. The Nigerian international continued in the same vein on Thursday afternoon.
How it happened
Atalanta went into the game looking to make it three successive wins on the bounce. Gian Piero Gasperini did not have to wait too long before taking the lead. The home side went ahead as early as the tenth minute through their star man Lookman.
The Nigerian international scored his first of the afternoon after turning in Giorgio Scalvini’s glancing header. Lookman’s early opener set the pace for the rest of the match.
The former Leicester City man doubled Atalanta’s lead two minutes later with a neat finish past Spezia’s goalkeeper Petar Zovko.
Albin Ekdal pulled one back for Spezia in the 14th minute but Hans Hateboer restored Atalanta’s two-goal lead in the first half with a great finish into the bottom corner.
But just as it looked like Atalanta would take a two-goal lead into the break, Spezia pulled another back through Daniele Verde’s strike following a ball from Viktor Kovalenko.
Low-tempo second half
Verde’s strike was the last of an enthralling first-half action. As expected, the second half resumed with less intensity after the high-octane football in the first half.
However, the game picked up again in the final 15 minutes of the match as Rasmus Hojlund restored La Dea’s two-goal lead with a fantastic shot that left Zovko with no chance.
The home side completed a dominant victory in the first minute of added time as former Chelsea star Ethan Ampadu directed Hojlund’s chipped shot into his net.
Talking point
Lookman took home the headlines after he continued his impressive debut season in Italy. The Nigerian international now has 11 goals in all competitions for La Dea, including nine in 17 league appearances.
The 25-year-old is already proving to be a bargain after he joined Atalanta for €9.00m from RB Leipzig last summer.
What next?
Atalanta will now meet Inter Milan in the quarter-final on January 31 but before then, they have games against Juventus and Sampdoria in the league.
Related content
)
15:54 - 10.01.2023
BETTING TIPS Bet9ja 5 odds accumulators for Coppa Italia Cup games
The 2023 Coppa Italia begins as Italian clubs shift their attention from their regular league to cup football with opportunities given to lower Italian leagues to participate in a tournament that involves all Italian clubs.
)
14:24 - 18.01.2023
SUPER EAGLES ‘We haven’t had it so good in recent years’ - Obafemi hails Osimhen, Moffi and Lookman
Former Nigerian international, Obafemi has lauded the current crop of Super Eagles strikers.
)
20:03 - 15.01.2023
SERIE A Lookman bags two goals and an assist as Atalanta thrash Salernitana 8-2
Ademola Lookman was in imperious form as Atalanta ripped Salernitana apart
)
21:41 - 15.01.2023
SERIE A Nigeria stars Osimhen and Lookman on top in Italy
The two Super Eagles stars are in the best form of their lives in Italy’s top flight this season.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)