Super eagles forward, Ademola Lookman was a second half substitute as Atalanta threw a 2-goal lead away to draw 2-2 with visiting Hellas Verona at the 21,300 capacity Gewiss Stadium, Nigeriasoccernet.com report.
Racing to an early two goals lead in the first twenty minutes from the boots of Gianluca Scamacca (13') and Éderson (18), one would think it was Atalanta's day as the visitors had no answer to all the Arsenals thrown at them by their host in the matchday 32 encounter of the 2023/24 Italian Serie A season.
However, two goals in four minutes in the second half from Darko Lazovi? (56') and Tijjani Noslin (60') turned the tides around, leaving the final 30 minutes with a lot of fireworks which produced no further goal.
Seeing the Situation after conceding tow quickfire goals in the second half, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini introduced Nigeria's Ademola Lookman in the 63rd minutes with hopes he can help restore the team's lead, but all his efforts yielded no results as both teams eventually settled for a 2-2 draw.
The results is a setback for Atalanta's ambition for a champions league spot as they are now eight points behind Bologna who currently occupies the final spot.
They return to Europe this Thursday as they host Liverpool at the Gewiss Stadium for the second leg quarterfinal of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League. They lead 3-0 from the first leg.
By Oluwayemi Omolagba