By Remilekun Awokoya
Nigerian international Ademola Lookman delivered a standout performance on Wednesday, scoring for Atalanta in their 2-0 away victory over VfB Stuttgart in a Champions League encounter.
Atalanta’s first clear opportunity came early in the game. In the 9th minute, Mario Pasalic found himself in prime position after receiving a well-placed pass inside the box, but his shot narrowly missed, sailing just wide of the right post.
Stuttgart fought to respond but saw a key moment go unawarded in the 34th minute, as El Bilal Toure went down in the box, only for the referee to dismiss any penalty appeals.
Just before halftime, Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav nearly turned the tide, getting into a threatening position with a close-range shot that skimmed past the left post, leaving Stuttgart’s supporters disappointed.
Atalanta broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, with Lookman capitalising on a clever assist from Charles De Ketelaere.
Lookman calmly tapped the ball into an open net, securing the crucial 1-0 lead.
The Italian side doubled their advantage in the 88th minute. After Stuttgart’s defence faltered, Nicolo Zaniolo seized the chance to curl a precise shot from the edge of the box, sealing Atalanta’s victory with a 2-0 scoreline.
The win boosts Atalanta’s standing in the group, with Lookman’s goal adding to his growing impact on the team’s Champions League campaign.