MOTM Lookman moves level with Martins as third most prolific Nigerians in Serie A

Ademola Lookman scored twice and provided two assists as his club, Atalanta romped to a 6-1 defeat of Hellas Verona in their match week nine Serie A game in front of 23,015 spectators at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo on Saturday.

Lookman, who has now scored four goals in six Serie A games this season, has now brought his total goal haul to 28 in 68 appearances has now drawn level with Obafemi Martins as the third most prolific Nigerians in the history of the competition.

Martins netted 28 times in 88 appearances during his time with Inter Milan while Lookman has reached that mark with 20 games less.

Both Lookman and Martins are now third behind Victor Osimhen who scored 65 goals in 65 Serie A appearances including the 26 he scored in 32 games to inspire Napoli to their first Scudetto in the 2022/23 season. He won the Serie A top scorer award that season.

Second behind Osimhen who is now on loan at Turkish Super Lig side, Galatasaray is Simy Nwankwo who netted 34 times in 116 appearances for FC Crotone (30 goals in 80 games) and US Salernitana 1919 (four goals in 34 matches).

Meanwhile, Lookman has now scored against 18 Serie A side since he joined Atalanta in August 2022. The Nigerian has scored against all the big names Serie A sides including AC Milan (2), Napoli (2), Inter Milan (1), Juventus (2).

The Nigerian is however yet to score against the two big teams in Rome viz AS Roma (2 games) and SS Lazio (3 games).

Lookman has now had the perfect build-up to the imminent Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, where he is the first Atalanta player to ever make the shortlist for the France Football trophy.

The 27 year old expressed his delight with the team’s overall performance against the visitors.

‘Another good performance from the team. First half was very, very good, we scored five goals and everyone was top,’ Lookman told Sky Sport Italia after the game.

The Super Eagle was voted man of the match.