Lookman believes in Atalanta title dream after reaching Serie A summit
Ademola Lookman said that Atalanta have belief in a first-ever Serie A title after he fired his team provisionally top of Serie A with the late, decisive goal in Friday's 2-1 win over AC Milan. Nigeria forward Lookman continued his superb form by nodding in his 10th goal of the campaign with three minutes remaining at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, where delirious fans chanted "we're gonna win the league" at the final whistle.
The 27-year-old met Sead Kolasinac's flick-on from a corner to give Atalanta a club-record equalling ninth straight win in Italy's top flight and move them two points above Napoli. Antonio Conte's Napoli host Lazio on Sunday night and will have to beat the team who knocked them out of the Italian Cup if they are to reclaim their narrow league lead. "I just think we continue to play the way we play, match-by match, and, you know, we believe in ourselves as a team," said Lookman when asked by Sky about Atalanta's title hopes.
Alvaro Morata had looked to have earned Milan a point in a fiery atmosphere with his 22nd-minute leveller after former Milan flop Charles De Ketelaere had crashed Atalanta ahead in the 12th minute with a thumping header. But Milan coach Paulo Fonseca was livid at referee Federico La Penna, in particular for De Ketelaere not being penalised for what he saw as a foul on Theo Hernandez when he lept to score Atalanta's opener.
"Their first goal was a clear foul, there can be no doubt about it. The referee officiated against Milan," said Fonseca, whose team are seventh and 12 points behind Atalanta. Fonseca said that he had been "afraid" about La Penna's refereeing as he had been in the VAR booth for Milan's win over Udinese earlier in the season when Tijjani Reijnders was inexplicably sent off for an extremely soft foul. "I get that they have a difficult job, but it's the same thing every week. They don't respect Milan," he added.
Atalanta now turn their attentions to Tuesday's visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League when they can strengthen their case for direct qualification for the last 16 and get revenge for defeat in the European Super Cup in August. Few would be surprised with an Atalanta win over Madrid, just as no-one would be shocked if they were to be crowned Italian champions come May. - Inter in the hunt - Brilliantly taken goals either side of half-time from Italian internationals Federico Dimarco and Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram's neat volley in the 67th minute were enough for Inter to beat Parma 3-1.
The reigning champions are four points behind Atalanta but have a game in hand after having to abandon last weekend's fixture at Fiorentina due to Edoardo Bove's harrowing collapse. Inter are unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions and travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday knowing that a win would almost certainly ensure a Champions League last-16 with two matches remaining.
"We scored some great goals today... The only disappointing thing is that we conceded. We didn't deserve to given how we played over the 94 minutes," said Inzaghi to DAZN. Parma, who netted through a late Matteo Darmian own goal, sit 12th in Serie A, but Inzaghi still picked his best available XI even with a big European fixture around the corner, selecting captain and star striker Lautaro Martinez for his 300th Inter appearance.
Martinez has struggled in front of goal this season and as well as having a first-half strike rightly ruled out for offside the Argentina forward also wasted three good opportunities to score. The 27-year-old had his head in his hands when he poked wide a great chance one-on-one with Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, six minutes after Thuram lashed home his 10th league goal of the season. France attacker Thuram was born in Parma where his father Lilian played for five seasons, winning the UEFA Cup and Italian Cup in 1999 as part of a star-studded outfit which also featured Italian icons Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro.
