Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman scored the only goal of the game as Atalanta secured a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Lecce in Serie A on Saturday.
The Gian Piero Gasperini-led side sealed their final win of the year thanks to Lookman’s low strike to the bottom corner from outside the box.
The 26-year-old, who was recently named in Nigeria’s final team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), bagged his seventh league goal of the season in his 18th game.
AL11 ????????????#AtalantaLecce #SerieA pic.twitter.com/M1JHkFD32C
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) December 30, 2023
Atalanta came close to opening the scoring twice early in the first half, but Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca failed to convert his effort from close range, hitting the frame of the post on one occasion.
The home side were in total control, and the second half continued in the same fashion, with Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic also hitting the frame of the net, much to the disappointment of the Atalanta fans.
However, La Dea soon got in front through a beautiful strike from its top scorer, Lookman, on the 58th-minute mark. The former Leicester City man, who is on his way to join his Super Eagles teammates, scored the winner to take his side to sixth in the league standings.
Chiudiamo il 2023 con una vittoria! ????
We end the year with a win! ????#AtalantaLecce #SerieA #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️???? pic.twitter.com/j1vVsOTl2P
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) December 30, 2023
The win ensured Atalanta ended 2023 with a victory to bounce back from their last defeat to Bologna and make it four wins in their last five games.
