Inter send Atalanta packing: Africa's finest Lookman benched as club's gamble fails in Super Cup

In a disappointing night for Atalanta in Saudi Arabia, Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman found himself on the bench during the Italian Super Cup semi-final against Inter Milan. 

The match ended in a 2-0 defeat for Atalanta, with Lookman watching from the sidelines for 56 minutes before being introduced into the game on Thursday night.

Atalanta's head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, may regret not starting Lookman, who has been a key player for the team this season in all competitions. 

The encounter saw Inter take the lead with a stunning overhead kick from Denzel Dumfries in the first half. Despite Atalanta's efforts to equalise, they struggled to find their rhythm against a well-organised Inter defence.

Lookman's introduction came shortly after Inter's opening goal, but just five minutes later, Dumfries struck again, sealing Inter's victory and their progression to the final. 

This outcome means Atalanta miss out on a chance to compete for the trophy, leaving fans and players disappointed.

The loss represents a setback for Atalanta and their ambitious fans as they will reflect on their performance in this high-stakes match and how they missed the chance to compete for another major title.

With Lookman on the bench for such a crucial game, questions may arise regarding Gasperini's tactical decisions moving forward.