Lookman ends goal drought, Awoniyi is back as Ndidi, Iheanancho fall with Leicester 

Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Lookman Ademola has regained his scoring form.

Lookman ended his eight-game barren run, as he scored the third goal for Atalanta in their 3-1 victory against Cremonese at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.

Lookman was a few goals behind compatriot Victor Osimhen in January. And he stated that he wanted to catch up with the Napoli star.

However, since then, he lost form as he failed to score in his previous eight games for Atalanta.

Lookman started from the bench when La Dea traveled to Cremona to take on Cremonese. Nigeria striker Cyriel Dessers also started from the bench for the home side.

Atalanta bossed the possession, but they failed to find spaces in Cremonese’s area for most of the first half.

They finally got their chance just before halftime, as Marten de Roon scored after unleashing a wicked shot from outside the box.

However, their lead did not last, as ten minutes into the second half, Daniel Ciofani drew level for the hosts.

Lookman entered the game at halftime, and he added some bite to Atalanta’s attack.

Jeremie Boga restored Atalanta’s lead in the 73rd minute with a beautiful strike from close range.

Cremonese poured bodies forward in the dying minutes to get a goal back, but it proved to be counterproductive.

Lookman got on the end of a pass from Ederson and sent a precise finish into an empty net to make it 3-1 for  Atalanta.

The goal was Lookman’s 13th in the Italian top-flight this season. The Nigeria attacker is now eight goals away from Osimhen on the goalscorer charts.

Elsewhere, Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi returned to action for Nottingham Forest for the first time since January 4th, but he could not do much as the Tricky Trees drew 1-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Awoniyi has been out of action since January 4th when he scored the winner for Nottingham Forest against Southampton.

The Super Eagles star played 5 minutes of action for his side, but he could not do much against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Compatriot Emmanuel Dennis started the game for the Tricky Trees, and he had a good performance. The former Watford man was involved in the build-up to Forest’s goal which Brennan Johnson scored in the first half. However, Nottingham Forest were unable to score again after Daniel Podence equalized for Wolves.

Meanwhile, at Selhurst Park, it was a bad day in the office for Leicester City and their Nigerian stars as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Coach Brendan Rodgers decided to hand Wilfred Ndidi a place in the starting 11. But he left Kelechi Iheanacho on the bench.

Crystal Palace dominated the first half but they could not get their breakthrough. Leicester City started the second half well, and they got the opening goal through Ricardo Pereira.

It looked like the Foxes would get something out of the game. However, Daniel Iversen took the wind off their sails after he scored an own goal to make it 1-1 in the 59th minute.

Iheanacho was introduced into the game in the 72nd minute to try to do something in attack.

Ndidi had a decent game. He had 36 passes, six clearances, three blocks, and five interceptions.

However, his efforts could not stop his side from losing as they succumbed to a late goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta, who won the game for the Eagles in stoppage time.

The loss drags Leicester deep into the relegation battle, as they now sit 18th in the Premier League with 25 points. Also, it was their sixth loss in their previous seven games.