Super Eagles star nets brace in 8-0 friendly win, shuts down injury fears

The Nigeria international did not make it off the bench at the weekend in his side’s narrow victory at Bologna

Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman was twice on target as Atalanta completed an 8-0 demolition job on Mopella in a friendly match on Thursday afternoon.

Lookman netted a brace, Pašalić bagged a hattrick, Boga scored twice while Mæhle also got himself on the scoresheet as the Nerazzurri showed the full force of their superiority over the team currently competing in the Eccellenza league.

The Nigeria international equally provided two assists – one for Mæhle’s opening goal and the other for Pašalić’s fine volley that made it 3-0.

Lookman’s involvement in the match, which had two halves of 40 minutes each, put to bed fears that the attacker was carrying a knock.

The former RB Leipzig winger, who has been exceptional since joining the club last summer, was surprisingly an unused substitute at the weekend during Atalanta’s 2-1 away win at Bologna.

Koopmeiners and Højlund got the goals for the Goddess at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara while Lookman – Atalanta’s top scorer with seven Serie A goals – looked on from the bench.

Lookman will hope he has shown enough against Mopella, to convince manager Gian Piero Gasperini that he is battle ready for Atalanta’s next league fixture.

Atalanta will host struggling Salernitana at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday in a matchday 18 clash of the 2022-23 Italian Serie A season.