Atalanta secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro on Sunday night, keeping their Serie A title hopes alive and adding more pressure on their rivals.
Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman featured from the start and was active throughout the encounter, although he extended his goal drought to five consecutive Serie A matches.
Despite not finding the back of the net, Lookman was a constant threat down the left, registering a shot on target and linking up well with teammates in attack.
It was a clash of Nigerian internationals, as Samuel Chukwueze was named on the bench for AC Milan.
The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute when Ederson finished off a well-worked move, slotting home from a Raoul Bellanova cut-back to hand Atalanta the lead.
Milan responded by throwing bodies forward and introducing attacking options like Chukwueze, who replaced Fikayo Tomori.
But Sérgio Conceição men couldn’t break through a stubborn Atalanta backline. Both teams managed just three shots on target each in a game defined by tactical discipline and compact defending.
Lookman, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, was heavily involved in Atalanta’s attacking play.
He completed 27 of 30 passes (90% accuracy), made three key passes, and had 56 touches, though his only dribbling attempt didn’t succeed.
With the result, Atalanta remain firmly in the title picture, now sitting seven points behind league leaders Inter Milan, who suffered a surprise loss on Sunday.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will need to maintain this momentum as the title race heats up in the closing weeks of the season.
Lookman may not have scored, but his all-round performance and influence on the pitch remain vital to Atalanta’s ambitions.
