November 3, 2024, 11:53 AM
November 3, 2024, 11:53 AM
With a double at Diego Armando Maradona’s home and against the leader, the Nigerian Ademola Lookman attacked Naples (0-3) to fully put Gasperini’s Atalanta in the fight for the ‘Scudetto’, once again open.
Lookman established himself as a big-game player. After being the hero of the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen with a hat-trick that ended Xabi Alonso’s team’s undefeated record and gave the ‘Dea’ the first European title in their history, he recorded another exhibition huge in Diego Armando Maradona against Antonio Conte’s Naples, leader and with an aura in the last few days of invincible.
But the Nigerian winger likes challenges. There are already 7 goals in 12 games. Last year he scored 17. The offensive responsibility fell completely on him after Gasperini opted to leave Mateo Retegui on the bench and the winger, who finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or ranking, more than responded.
Already in the 10th minute he opened the scoring and began his particular ‘show’ in Naples. He knew how to move in the area to hunt, free of marking and in a second play, a bouncing ball to shoot Meret by his stick with his left foot.
Napoli tried to respond, with their pride hurt after conceding a goal after just a month without conceding, and in the next play they were able to change the outcome of the game. The team found McTominay, fundamental in Conte’s scheme, on the edge and the Scot took a shot from the edge that hit the post squarely.
Once the ‘Dea’ was saved, Lookman continued with his exhibition. Dribbling, unmarking, short supports and diagonals that drove the Parthenopean defense crazy, completely surpassed by the African, author of the sentence half an hour into the match, with another play of strength and skill.
A con that seemed to lead to nothing. De Ketelaere isolated in one band, Lookman in the other. The Belgian, brimming with quality, managed to get out of between two defenders and sent long to Lookman, who faced it determinedly, with the goal between his eyebrows, and shot from distance to extend the advantage and complete his double.
He had the third in his boot in the 75th minute, when Naples turned in search of a comeback that did not come also because of an impressive collective work from the ‘Dea’. But his shot crashed into the side netting. It was Mateo Retegui who, also asserting himself, made it 0-3 in added time after a great shot to Bellanova’s side centre. Perfect match for the ‘Dea’, who will face Stuttgart in the Champions League this Wednesday to get closer to the round of 16.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta showed that they can fight with anyone. And even more so with Lookman at this level. It is a hard-working team with a great staff. At the moment they are second, with the Inter game remaining, but only 3 points behind the lead that Naples still occupies.
