Italian soccer legend Roberto Donadoni has thrown his weight behind Atalanta ahead Ademola Lookman forward of Sunday’s Serie A conflict between AC Milan and Atalanta, saying the Nigerian has proven extra consistency and decisiveness than Portugal’s Rafael Leão, Soccernet.ng stories.
The 2 attackers are set to go head-to-head on the iconic San Siro as Atalanta look to consolidate their place in subsequent season’s UEFA Champions League, whereas Milan proceed their push for a European spot.
Leão, now in his sixth season with AC Milan, is probably the most invaluable Portuguese footballer on the earth with a price of €75 million, as per Transfermarkt.
Ademola Lookman – 2024/2025
Each G/A to date
pic.twitter.com/aUsjTKrfLH— JuveFooty (@JuveFooty) April 17, 2025
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The previous Lille ace performed a key function in Milan’s title-winning 2021-22 marketing campaign and has scored 54 Serie A targets since arriving in Italy.
But regardless of his pedigree, Donadoni, who gained seven Serie A titles and three Champions League trophies with Milan, believes Lookman has had a extra influential season.
What did Donadoni say of Lookman?
“Each strikers can resolve the match, but when I had to decide on, I’d guess on Lookman,” Donadoni informed Eco di Bergamo, as reported by Milannews.
“Thus far he’s been extra constant, he’s elementary for Gasperini, and he already proved it within the reverse fixture. Leão has had ups and downs, and this 12 months he has struggled fairly a bit to seek out consistency.”
Lookman has registered 13 targets and 5 assists in 26 Serie A video games this season regardless of battling harm and enduring an unpleasant fallout with supervisor Gian Piero Gasperini. The reigning African Footballer of the Yr’s crowning second got here within the UEFA Europa League remaining, the place he netted a historic hat-trick to information Atalanta to their first-ever European trophy.
Awkward second in Atalanta’s 1-0 loss vs Lazio at this time… Ademola Lookman was by chance substituted off the sphere! ♂️
There was a confusion between “Ade” and “Ede” — Gasperini needed to sub off Ederson, NOT Lookman, stories @SkySport. pic.twitter.com/XUyeGt9iUW
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 6, 2025
As compared, Leão has scored seven occasions and contributed eight assists in 30 Serie A appearances this time period. Whereas his numbers stay stable, AC Milan have underperformed, sitting in ninth place with 51 factors — 10 behind third-placed Atalanta, who’ve 61 factors with six video games left.
Sunday’s fixture is important for each golf equipment. Atalanta are aiming to carry onto their top-four place and safe Champions League qualification, whereas Milan should string collectively wins to stay in competition for a spot in subsequent season’s UEFA Convention League.
Atalanta enter the match on the again of a confidence-boosting 2-0 victory over Bologna, snapping a three-game shedding streak. Milan, in the meantime, dismantled Udinese 4-0 of their final outing.
When these sides final met in December, Atalanta triumphed 2-1 on the Gewiss Stadium, with Lookman among the many scorers.
The Bergamo outfit are unbeaten of their final three league encounters with Milan, scoring six and conceding 4 in that run. Milan’s final Serie A win in opposition to Atalanta dates again to February 2023.
Mateo Retegui has led the road fantastically for Atalanta this season, scoring 23 targets, together with seven openers. For Milan, Tijjani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic, and Leão have stood out in assault, with Reijnders prime scoring on 10.
AC Milan have taken 28 factors from 16 residence matches this season, whereas Atalanta boast 10 wins in 16 away journeys.
With European locations on the road and two of Serie A’s most enjoyable forwards on show, Sunday’s conflict guarantees fireworks on the San Siro.