Ademola Lookman’s 87th-minute header gave Atalanta a dramatic 2-1 victory over AC Milan on Friday, sending the Bergamo-based side to the top of Italian Serie A. The match, held at the Gewiss Stadium, was intensely competitive, if not combative, with tactical brilliance from both teams.
Lineups
Atalanta: Marco Carnesecchi, Rafael Toloi, Berat Djimsiti, Joakim Maehle, Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners, Davide Zappacosta, Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere, Mario Pasalic, Duvan Zapata.
AC Milan: Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Simon Kjaer, Theo Hernandez, Ismael Bennacer, Sandro Tonali, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leao.
How the Match Unfolded
The match began with high intensity as Christian Pulisic nearly scored within 20 seconds, but Marco Carnesecchi made the save. In the 12th minute, Charles De Ketelaere out-jumped Theo Hernandez to head in the opening goal for Atalanta, capitalizing on a free kick won by Lookman after Yunus Musah fouled him.
AC Milan equalized in the 37th minute through Rafael Leao, who slotted home a well-placed shot past Carnesecchi. The game continued with end-to-end action, with both teams creating several chances.
Lookman, who was closely marked by Emerson Royal and Yunus Musah throughout the match, managed to win a corner in the 87th minute. He then sneaked around the back to head the ball past Mike Maignan, securing Atalanta’s victory.
Post-Match Analysis
The victory makes it Atalanta’s ninth consecutive league win, and they have been in very impressive form this season. Lookman’s ability to capitalize on set pieces proved useful in breaking down AC Milan’s defence.
Although Emerson Royal and Yunus Musah dastardly marked him, Lookman’s determination paid off with the winning goal.
What the Coaches Said
Atalanta’s interim manager praised the team’s resilience, particularly Lookman. “Ademola showed great character and determination. His goal reflects the hard work and spirit of this team,” he said.
AC Milan’s coach was disappointed but acknowledged the strength of their opponents. “We fought hard, but Atalanta was very efficient in key moments. We need to learn from this and come back stronger,” he said.
Player of the Match
Ademola Lookman was named Player of the Match for his performance. His late header not only brought the 3-points but also showed he can stand and perform under pressure. “I’m thrilled to contribute to the team’s success. We will keep pushing to maintain our position,” the young Nigerian star said after the match.
What Next
Atalanta, now leading the Serie A table with 34 points after 15 matchdays, will focus on maintaining its momentum. Next week, it faces a challenging away match against Lazio. AC Milan, sitting in fourth place, will have to bounce back in their upcoming fixture against Torino.
Serie A Table Top 7
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