Atalanta Crushes Napoli to Close in on the Serie A Lead

In a stunning display at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman led Atalanta to a resounding 3-0 victory against league leaders Napoli, reigniting the title race in Serie A.

Lookman, known for his prowess in big matches, followed up his Europa League final heroics—where he scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure Atalanta's first European trophy—with another standout performance. His two goals against Antonio Conte's previously indomitable Napoli side were crucial in a match that could prove pivotal in the Scudetto chase.

The winger opened the scoring in the 10th minute, capitalizing on a loose ball in the area to fire home with his left foot, and he didn't look back. Napoli, stunned by the early goal—the first they had conceded in a month—tried to respond immediately. Scott McTominay nearly equalized with a fierce shot that hit the post, a moment that could have changed the course of the game.

Instead, Atalanta doubled their lead through Lookman's second, a long-range effort set up by Charles De Ketelaere's deft escape from defense. The Belgian's pass found Lookman in stride, and he made no mistake, securing his brace with a decisive finish.

Mateo Retegui, coming off the bench, sealed the victory in added time with a sharp finish from Raoul Bellanova's cross, rounding off a perfect performance for Gian Piero Gasperini's team. With this win, Atalanta positions itself as a genuine title contender, just three points behind Napoli, who still lead the table pending Inter's next match.

Atalanta next faces Stuttgart in the Champions League, where a victory would edge them closer to the knockout stages, continuing their impressive campaign on multiple fronts.