By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
Napoli head coach, Antonio Conte, is preparing for a tactical challenge ahead of Sunday’s Serie, a showdown with Atalanta, as he looks for ways to neutralise the explosive Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.
The match, set to take place at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, has Conte concerned about Lookman’s impact on the game, forcing the Italian manager to consider significant tactical adjustments.
Conte is reportedly planning to assign a player specifically to mark Lookman, a strategy similar to Arsenal’s approach in the UEFA Champions League.
In a recent goalless draw between Arsenal and Atalanta at Gewiss Stadium, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta deployed midfielder Thomas Partey to shadow Lookman, effectively limiting his influence.
Conte aims to employ a similar approach, warning Napoli players not to underestimate the threat Atalanta poses.
“It was Matteo’s idea for me to use a drop-back strategy when under pressure. Against Atalanta, Arsenal put Thomas Partey on Ademola Lookman, sometimes even bringing Saka and Martinelli deep to create a five-man defense,” Conte said, as reported by Football Italia. “There’s an evolution in how teams approach matches—how they attack and defend. I’ve emphasised this tactical approach to our players, and we’ll see how it plays out on the pitch.”
Conte praised Atalanta’s strength and consistency, noting their reputation as a compact and disciplined side that recently won the UEFA Europa League, ending Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak.
He stressed the need for Napoli to approach the game with caution and respect for Atalanta’s resilience, particularly under the leadership of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with whom Conte shares a history dating back to his playing days at Juventus.
“It would be a mistake for Napoli to underestimate this match. If anything, Atalanta could be the ones to underestimate us after last season’s results. People think not playing in Europe gives us an edge, but it’s actually a challenge because we don’t have a large squad,” Conte added.
Lookman has been instrumental for Atalanta this season, having started six of his seven appearances in Serie A.
The 14th-ranked player in the recent Ballon d’Or rankings, he has scored four league goals, placing him among the top scorers, and ranks joint second in assists with four key passes leading to goals. His performances make him a crucial player for Atalanta and a major threat for Napoli’s defence.
Although Conte refrained from calling the game a “Scudetto clash,” he noted the importance of Champions League qualification for both teams. He acknowledged Atalanta’s ability to develop steadily, even when faced with high-profile player departures, setting an example Napoli hopes to follow.