Ademola Lookman Scores Brace After Gasperini’s Face-off as Atalanta Thrash Empoli 5-0

Ademola Lookman delivered a standout performance, scoring twice in Atalanta’s commanding 5-0 victory over Empoli on February 23, 2025. This win propels Atalanta to third place in Serie A, just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

The match’s opening goal came from an own goal by Empoli’s Emmanuel Gyasi, followed by goals from Mateo Retegui and Lookman before halftime.

Lookman added his second shortly after the break, with Davide Zappacosta completing the scoring in the 74th minute. This decisive victory bolsters Atalanta’s title aspirations as they close in on the top spot.

This impressive display comes on the heels of a recent controversy involving Lookman and Atalanta’s head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini. Following Atalanta’s Champions League exit against Club Brugge, Gasperini criticized Lookman for missing a penalty, labeling him as “one of the worst penalty takers” he had ever seen. Lookman responded by expressing his disappointment with the public criticism, describing it as “disrespectful.”

Despite the tension, Lookman’s performance against Empoli underscores his resilience and importance to the team. However, during his substitution in the match, Lookman notably avoided interaction with Gasperini, highlighting ongoing friction between the player and coach.