Ademola Lookman delivered a standout performance as Atalanta dismantled Serie A leaders Napoli in a dominant 3-0 victory on Sunday, which turned out to be a career low for Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian winger scored two expertly-taken goals in the first half, setting the tone for a tactically commanding display by the Bergamo side that handed Conte one of his heaviest defeats on home soil.
Lookman’s early brace shocked the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona crowd, with his first goal coming from a cleverly orchestrated attack.
A misplaced clearance from Napoli’s Matias Olivera allowed Charles De Ketelaere to flick the ball towards Lookman, who volleyed it in from an exceptionally tight angle, ending Napoli’s streak of three consecutive clean sheets.
Lookman then doubled the lead with a stunning solo effort, cutting inside Giovanni Di Lorenzo and unleashing a powerful shot Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret couldn’t keep out.
Napoli pushed hard in the second half, with Kvaratskhelia testing Atalanta’s keeper Marco Carnesecchi, but Atalanta’s well-organised defence held firm. Late into stoppage time, substitute Mateo Retegui sealed the victory, finishing a Ruggeri cross with a low volley.
According to Opta, the defeat to Atalanta is a rare and painful one for Conte. It is only the second time in his Serie A managerial career that he has lost a home game by a margin of three goals, the last occasion being a 5-2 loss with Atalanta against Juventus in 2009.
3 – Antonio #Conte has lost a #SerieA home match as a manager by a margin by three goals for only the second time in his career, after Atalanta-Juventus (2-5), on 7th November 2009. Fall.#NapoliAtalanta
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) November 3, 2024
Atalanta, meanwhile, celebrated another impressive result, having also won 3-0 in Naples last season.
Despite the defeat Napoli stay top of the Italian Serie A table while Atalanta climb to second place, three points behind the leaders.