Atalanta vs Udinese: Okoye at Lookman’s mercy as La Dea host Bianconeri

Nigeria internationals Ademola Lookman and Maduka Okoye will face off in a crucial Serie A clash as red-hot Atalanta host struggling Udinese in a Game Week 12 fixture at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The encounter will pit Lookman, who has been in scintillating form with eight goals this season, against Super Eagles goalkeeper Okoye, who is looking to bounce back from a disappointing own goal in Udinese’s 2-0 loss to Juventus last weekend.

Lookman heads into the match, brimming with confidence after scoring in Atalanta’s impressive 2-0 Champions League victory over Stuttgart at the Mercedes Benz Arena on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old forward has been instrumental in La Dea’s recent surge, which has seen them go unbeaten in their last nine games, winning seven and drawing two.

“It was a nice evening for the team. We all put in a good performance together, and that against a strong opponent. It was a tough game against VfB Stuttgart, just as we expected,” Lookman told BILD correspondent Felix Arnold after the Champions League victory.

The former RB Leipzig man, who is valued at €60m and reportedly attracting interest from Real Madrid, has been directly involved in seven goals since October, contributing to Atalanta’s impressive tally of 29 league goals this season. His spectacular form has made him a favourite for the forthcoming 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, particularly after finishing 14th in the recent Ballon d’Or rankings.

Since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 for €9.35m plus bonuses, Lookman has proven to be an exceptional bargain, amassing an impressive 40 goals and providing 23 assists in 91 competitive appearances for the Italian side. His remarkable performances have caught the attention of several top European clubs, with Spanish giants Real Madrid the latest to show interest in him.

On the opposite end, Okoye will be eager to redeem himself after an unfortunate own goal against Juventus last week.

The Nigerian goalkeeper, who had kept a clean sheet against Cagliari in the previous match, saw Thomas Thuram’s 19th-minute shot rebound off his back into the net before Savona doubled Juve’s lead, leaving Udinese in seventh place.

History favours Atalanta in this fixture, being undefeated in their last 13 meetings with Udinese—their longest streak against any opponent. The Bianconeri have managed just one victory in their last 16 visits to Bergamo, a drought stretching back to October 2017.

Under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta have been particularly impressive at both ends of the pitch. Just three days after Lookman’s match-winning display in Naples, where two first-half strikes helped them earn a superb 3-0 victory at Stadio Maradona, the team maintained their momentum with another clean sheet in Stuttgart.

The Bergamo-based club have demonstrated their title ambitions by leading Serie A in goals scored from outside the box with seven, including Lookman’s spectacular strike at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Their attacking prowess has been further highlighted by striker Mateo Retegui, who has been directly involved in 10 goals since the start of October, while Lookman has contributed to seven during the same period.

More impressively, Atlanta have scored 29 league goals this season, with 18—or 62%—coming from October onwards.

Their defensive solidity has been equally notable, as they are yet to concede in the Champions League and have kept clean sheets in their last two league matches.

Meanwhile, Kosta Runjaic’s Udinese, despite their current position, three points outside the European spots have shown signs of vulnerability on the road. The team has lost their last three away fixtures against Roma, AC Milan, and Venezia, with the recent collapse in Venice particularly concerning as they surrendered a two-goal lead.

The match promises to be an intriguing battle between two teams with contrasting forms, but West African eyes will be on the Nigerian duo as they face off in what could be a crucial encounter for both sides’ seasonal ambitions.