Nigerian stars Ademola Lookman and Maduka Okoye will face off when Atalanta visits Udinese in Serie A this Saturday. The 3 p.m. showdown at Bluenergy Stadium features two Super Eagles talents on opposing sides.
Lookman’s Breakthrough After Turbulent Period
Lookman ended his goal drought in Atalanta’s recent 1-1 draw against AC Milan. This marked his first strike of the season. The forward had faced challenges earlier in the campaign.
Management tensions arose after a failed transfer to Inter Milan. Lookman was temporarily excluded from the squad. He returned with substitute appearances before starting in the Champions League.
Turkish club Galatasaray has reportedly renewed their interest. The reigning African Player of Year seeks double his current €4.6 million salary in potential negotiations.
Okoye’s Impressive Comeback
Okoye has regained form after serving a two-month betting suspension. Despite Udinese’s 3-1 loss to Juventus, the goalkeeper excelled. He made nine saves with five from inside the box.
His performance earned an 8.2 Sofascore rating – the match’s highest. Okoye expressed appreciation for coaching staff support during his absence. He emphasized his commitment to daily improvement.
Strong displays could secure his Super Eagles recall. Nigeria faces Gabon in next month’s World Cup playoff.
Atalanta’s Unbeaten Run
Atalanta remains Serie A’s only undefeated team this season. However, they’ve drawn seven of nine league matches. The team dominated AC Milan midweek but settled for another draw.
Lookman is expected to lead the attack against Udinese. Teammates Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Krstovic continue struggling for form. Manager Ivan Juric backs Lookman to regain top performance levels.
About the Author
