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The Atalanta boss was not interested in focusing on Ademola Lookman alone after the Super Eagles forward netted on his first start since AFCON 2023 in La Dea’s defeat by Bologna.
Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini was not keen to focus on Ademola Lookman scoring against Bologna on Sunday as La Dea were beaten 2-1 by Bologna at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday.
The Super Eagles forward started for the first time in Serie A since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Nigeria, sending the hosts 1-0 up after 28 minutes, but Thiago Motta’s men turned the game around with two goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Lewis Ferguson inside four second-half minutes to inflict back-to-back defeats on the Bergamaschi.
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21:12 - 03.03.2024
Lookman scores first goal since AFCON 2023 as Atalanta fall to superior Bologna
The Super Eagles star scored his first goal since returning from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations but it was not enough as Atalanta lost to Bologna
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16:00 - 14.02.2024
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What Gasperini said about Lookman and the team’s performance
When it was put to him that Lookman scored his eighth Serie A goal of the campaign on his return to the Atalanta lineup, the La Dea boss focused instead on the team and the finer details that decided Sunday’s loss.
“Paradoxically, without him, we had nine wins in 11 games,” replied Gasperini. “This just proves the individual doesn’t make all the difference.”
The 66-year-old rued his team’s inability to take advantage of a commendable opening half and the concession of quick-fire goals after the break.
“We put in a very good performance, the first half was extraordinary and the only issue was that blackout in the second half, but even then the reaction was positive,” the Atalanta head coach remarked.
“We could’ve been further ahead at half-time. Unfortunately, we lost when it came to the incidents, the penalty, in particular, was tough to swallow.
“In the space of three minutes, we threw away a match that had been positive.”
What comes next for Lookman and Atalanta?
Lookman should be pivotal in Atalanta’s upcoming games domestically and on the continent. La Dea return to Europa League action this week with the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Sporting Lisbon on March 6.
In Serie A, the Bergamo outfit face Juventus and Fiorentina in their next league games on March 10 and 17 before the imminent international break.
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