Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere calm Scudetto talk, but confess Atalanta can be ‘proud’ of dominating leaders Napoli 3-0 at the Stadio Maradona.
Both coaches were eager to underplay this as a potential Scudetto showdown, but it was certainly a statement from La Dea, who also won 3-0 in this arena last season.
Lookman bagged an early brace before Mateo Retegui came off the bench to score his 11th Serie A goal of the campaign on the volley.
“It was a big performance from the team, we’re happy and three points away to the leaders is never easy, so we’re proud of that,” Lookman told DAZN.
The Nigeria international was in Paris earlier this week for the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where he secured 14th place thanks largely to his hat-trick in the Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen. Is he aiming for top 10 next year?
“Individual achievements are part of football, but this is a team game, my squad helps me a lot. I continue working and try to help the team when I can.”
De Ketelaere assisted both Lookman goals
This was the fifth consecutive Serie A victory for Atalanta, and ended a run of three consecutive Napoli clean sheets.
They have scored 18 goals in that spell and conceded only two.
De Ketelaere was asked if Atalanta have to be considered Scudetto contenders at this point and tried to calm that approach.
“No, I don’t say these things, but we did well to win against the leaders in Naples,” said the Belgian.
“It was a great first half, we also had more chances to score and it’s a great sensation.”