In a surprising tactical decision, Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini left key attacker Ademola Lookman on the bench for much of their Supercoppa Italiana semifinal clash against Inter Milan in Riyadh on Thursday. The decision drew sharp criticism as Atalanta succumbed to a 2-0 defeat, with Denzel Dumfries’ second-half brace sealing Inter’s passage to the final.
Inter Milan, led by Simone Inzaghi, fielded their strongest lineup, while Gasperini opted to rest several top players, including Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere. Atalanta’s decision to start without their brightest offensive threats baffled fans and pundits alike, especially with top scorer Mateo Retegui already unavailable due to suspension.
The first half ended goalless, with Inter coming closest through Lautaro Martínez and Federico Dimarco, but Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi kept them at bay with a series of stunning saves. Atalanta’s lone chance fell to Giorgio Scalvini, whose header from close range was easily saved by Inter’s Yann Sommer.
Gasperini introduced Lookman in the 56th minute to replace Nicolò Zaniolo, hoping to inject life into Atalanta’s attack. However, Inter had already seized the initiative. Dumfries opened the scoring just before Lookman entered the fray, controlling a loose ball with a header before executing a spectacular overhead kick to find the net.
As Atalanta pressed for an equalizer, Dumfries struck again on a swift counterattack, firing a thunderous shot past Carnesecchi in the 72nd minute. Despite Atalanta’s late push, including a disallowed goal and Lookman testing Sommer with a powerful shot, they were unable to break through.
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After the match, Gasperini defended his controversial lineup, claiming it was an opportunity to test players who had seen limited minutes. “We have a lot of players, and this was the right time to give others a chance. I didn’t snub the competition; we faced a very strong team and made a few too many mistakes,” he said.
Fans, however, were less forgiving, with many criticizing Gasperini’s failure to start Lookman. Social media was abuzz with frustration, as supporters argued that the Nigerian winger’s creative flair and goal-scoring ability could have tilted the game in Atalanta’s favor.
Below is a fan’s reaction after Gasperini left Lookman on the bench;
Inter Milan now advances to the Supercoppa Italiana final, where they will face the winner of the second semifinal between Juventus and AC Milan. Meanwhile, Atalanta will need to regroup as they shift focus back to Serie A, where they currently sit atop the table.
For Lookman, the spotlight is likely to remain on him, with fans eager to see him reinstated as a starter in Atalanta’s future fixtures. Whether Gasperini heeds the calls to feature the “silkish” winger prominently remains to be seen.
