Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman delivered another influential performance on Sunday as Atalanta powered to a 2-0 win over Fiorentina in Bergamo, further underlining his growing importance under new manager Raffaele Palladino.
Lookman has been rejuvenated since Palladino’s arrival two weeks ago, and his confidence was evident from kick-off.
Fresh from a goal-and-assist showing in the midweek Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, the Nigerian retained his place in the starting lineup and immediately became a driving force in Atalanta’s attack.
Throughout the first half, Lookman’s sharp movement and close control constantly unsettled Fiorentina’s back line. While he did not find many clear scoring openings early on, his ability to stretch the defence created spaces for teammates to exploit.
One of those moments helped fuel the attacking rhythm that led to the breakthrough in the 41st minute, when Charles De Ketelaere set up Odilon Kossounou for a well-taken opener.
After the interval, Lookman stepped up even further, taking on more responsibility in the final third. His pressing forced Fiorentina deeper, and his quick transitions repeatedly pushed Atalanta into dangerous positions.
The reward for his persistence arrived just six minutes into the second half, when he finished off a flowing move to double the lead—yet another sign of his lethal form.
Beyond the goal, Lookman’s work rate, link-up play and decision-making stood out, shaping Atalanta’s offensive tempo and keeping Fiorentina on the back foot.
His performance once again showed why Palladino has placed him at the heart of La Dea’s resurgence.
