Atalanta will travel to Udinese for a crucial Serie A clash on Saturday, with the stakes high for both teams. Nigerian stars Ademola Lookman and Kingsley Ehizibue are set to feature prominently in this battle at the Dacia Arena.
La Dea enter this fixture three points behind league leaders Napoli but with a game in hand, meaning victory in Udine would put them level on points at the summit. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are unbeaten in their last 13 Serie A outings and have never lost their first league fixture of a calendar year under his management.
Udinese, meanwhile, are enjoying a resurgence under Kosta Runjaic. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, they now sit ninth in the table, sandwiched between AC Milan and Roma.
The Friuli-based club have picked up eight points from their last five games, a marked improvement from the meager returns of their previous 10 fixtures.
Correct Score Prediction: Udinese vs Atalanta
Udinese have struggled defensively at home, conceding nine goals in their last four matches. This has made us tip Atalanta to capitalize and return to winning ways.
Lookman’s blistering form could prove decisive against an inconsistent Udinese backline.
Udinese 1-2 Atalanta
Lookman’s remarkable consistency
Ademola Lookman continues to make waves as one of Europe’s most consistent attack-minded players. The Super Eagles star contributed a staggering 22 goals, 13 of which scored and nine assisted, in just 28 league appearances over the 2024 calendar year and is on the verge of reaching two significant career milestones.
Lookman needs just one more strike to notch his 50th career goal across Europe’s top five leagues. His tally currently stands at 49, comprising 11 goals in the Premier League, five in the Bundesliga, and 33 in Serie A. In addition, Lookman’s next goal will make him the first player to score 10 or more goals in each of the last three Serie A campaigns.
Such consistency sets him apart from the likes of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez and Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku, who have achieved double figures in past seasons but are yet to hit similar heights this term.
Ehizibue’s growing influence at Udinese
On the other side, Kingsley Ehizibue has become an indispensable part of Udinese’s defensive setup. The former Super Eagles invitee has started all 19 league games this season, logging 1,558 minutes at an average of 82 per match.
Despite being primarily a defensive player, Ehizibue has contributed offensively with one assist and one big chance created. His passing stats underline his reliability in possession, with an 80% accuracy rate in his own half and a 65% accuracy in the opposition’s territory.
Defensively, he averages 2.1 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, and 3.7 recoveries per game, showcasing his importance to Udinese’s system under Kosta Runjaic.
Ehizibue’s duel with Lookman on the flanks could be one of the game’s pivotal battles. While Lookman’s ability to cut inside and exploit space behind defenders is well-documented, Ehizibue’s athleticism and tactical awareness will be key to limiting the Atalanta winger’s impact.
Okoye’s continued absence
Udinese will, however, be without their first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, another Nigerian international, who remains sidelined due to injury.
His absence has been felt, with the team struggling for consistency at the back. Udinese’s defense has been breached 28 times in 19 games this season, a statistic that underlines their vulnerabilities, particularly in Okoye’s absence.
