Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman and his Atalanta teammates were second-best against defending champions Inter Milan, suffering a 2-0 defeat in their highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash in Serie A.
Lookman played 83 minutes but found himself tightly marked throughout as Inter extended their lead at the top of the Serie A standings to three points, while Atalanta remained third with 58 points, six points behind the leaders.
This defeat marks Atalanta’s third loss to Inter this season across all competitions without scoring a single goal.
A Night of Missed Chances and Defensive Lapses
The clash between two of Serie A’s most potent attacking sides got off to a thrilling start, with Inter nearly breaking the deadlock within the first seven minutes.
Lautaro Martínez’s incisive pass sent Marcus Thuram through on goal, but the French forward’s effort clipped the inside of the post and bounced out.
Atalanta responded just over 10 minutes later, with Mario Pašalić’s header forcing an impressive save from Yann Sommer after Marten de Roon’s pinpoint cross.
However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men, who were chasing a sixth consecutive league clean sheet, saw their hopes dashed early in the second half.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s precise corner delivery found an unmarked Carlos Augusto, who nodded home his third league goal of the season to give Inter a 1-0 lead.
Çalhanoğlu came close to doubling the lead with a powerful 25-yard strike, but Marco Carnesecchi was equal to it.
Lautaro Martínez then found the net, only for his goal to be ruled out due to a foul on Berat Djimsiti in the build-up.
Atalanta’s attacking struggles continued, with their first shot on target in the second half arriving in the 80th minute. Lazar Samardžić’s weak effort was easily collected by Sommer, highlighting their lack of cutting edge.
Red Cards and a Late Blow
Atalanta’s night worsened in the dying minutes when Ederson received two yellow cards in quick succession, one for a foul on Thuram and another for protesting the referee’s decision.
Manager Gasperini was also shown a red card for his reaction.
Inter took full advantage of their numerical superiority and sealed the win in the 86th minute.
Martínez, who had been a threat all game, rifled a shot past Carnesecchi to end a four-match winless streak on the road for the Nerazzurri.
Despite Alessandro Bastoni receiving a late red card for Inter, the damage was already done, leaving Atalanta with little to salvage from the game.
Lookman’s Tough Night and International Duty
Lookman, who was largely ineffective due to Inter’s defensive discipline, was substituted in the 83rd minute by Gasperini. The loss dealt a blow to Atalanta’s title ambitions, as they failed to close the gap on the leaders.
With club football taking a break, Lookman now turns his attention to international duty, joining Nigeria’s Super Eagles for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Under new head coach Eric Chelle, Nigeria will be looking to revive their qualification hopes, and Lookman will be eager to rediscover his best form after a frustrating outing in Bergamo.
