Ademola Lookman praised by Atalanta Coach for special Europa League performance

Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has been praised for a special performance by Atalanta Coach, Piero Gasperini, in the 2-1 Europa League win in mid-week.

Lookman did not score in the game but his performance was convincing enough to convince Gasperini it is the best he has seen the Nigerian International.

“Lookman played perhaps the best game of the season and also one of the best considering last year,” Piero Gasperini said, as per Calciomercato.

“He had many dangerous situations, and I see him growing, but I don’t know if he can repeat last year’s goals. Lookman is important. If we always scored goals in the first half, little or nothing would be missing.

“We were able to suffer in the second half; some players like Scamacca, Holm, and De Ketelaere need to grow in pace and mentality.”

In the UEFA Europa League game on Thursday, first half goals by Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri gave Atalanta, strong foundation to hold on to for their second win of the competition.

Sporting CP did pull one back through Viktor Gyökeres, but Atalanta held on to take maximum points.

This season, Lookman has scored two goals in seven Serie A games this term, a long way off his tally from the first half of last season.

Lookman has been in good form since the Man of the Match performance for the Nigeria Super Eagles during the September International break.