Lookman’s goal downs Sporting CP, sends Atalanta to Europa League quarterfinals

Atalanta welcomed Sporting CP to the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo for the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash. The first leg in Portugal last week ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning there was all to play for in the second leg.

Atalanta started well, but they fell behind to a goal from Pedro Goncalves in the 33rd minute, giving Sporting CP the upper hand. The visitors took their lead into the break, but the game changed in the second half.

La Dea came out guns blazing, and in the first minute of the second half, they scored through Lookman, who got on the end of a pin-point cross from Ederson, controlled, and sent a well-placed shot into the net.

Then, in the 59th minute, Gianluca Scamacca scored the second for Atalanta to put them in the driver’s seat. That goal took some wind off Sporting CP’s sails, and despite trying hard to get the equalizer, Atalanta held on strong.

Lookman had a good game. The Nigerian attacker had two shots, 55 touches, and two successful dribbles. He was taken off for El Bilal Toure in the 85th minute. The game eventually ended 2-1 in Atalanta’s favour and 3-2 on aggregate.

The other clubs that qualified for the knockout rounds are Liverpool, Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham, Marseille, AC Milan, and Benfica.