Lookman continues to shine in pre-season but his goal not enough as Atalanta are taught a lesson by Parma 

Ademola Lookman scored a consolation goal for Atalanta as the Europa League winners suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of Parma in a pre-season friendly staged at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma on Sunday evening.

The Charlton Athletic academy product has resumed pre-season training with the Nerazzurri after his commitments with the Super Eagles in their June internationals with South Africa's Bafana Bafana and Benin's Cheetahs.

Dennis Man's sixth minute strike set Parma on their way to a third win in pre-season, with Ange-Yoan Bonny doubling the advantage at minute 29.

Lookman pulled one back in the 38th minute but second half goals from Man and Anthony Partipilo earned the Yellow and Blues a comprehensive win.

The Nigeria international has picked up where he left off last season with impressive displays in Atalanta's first two pre-season fixtures.

Although Lookman did not get on the scoresheet in Atalanta's first pre-season game, a 2-2 draw with  AZ Alkmaar, he forced an own goal twenty minutes into the second half when his volley from Bakker's cross took a deflection off Moller Wolfe and ricocheted into the goal.

The 26-year-old was voted Atalanta's Player of the Season for the second consecutive year after registering twenty seven goal involvements (17 goals, 10 assists) in 45 matches across all competitions in 2023-2024.

Ahead of their first competitive game of the 2024-2025 season, a UEFA Super Cup clash with Real Madrid on August 14, Lookman and his Atalanta teammates will face St. Pauli in their last pre-season friendly. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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