By Korede James
Ademola Lookman and his Atalanta side fired blanks as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Udinese in their Serie A clash in Udine on Saturday.
The Super Eagles star and African Player of the Year was unable to add to his nine Serie A goals this season as Atalanta failed to go level on points with leaders Napoli.
Lookman made his 14th start of the league campaign but was taken off in the 62nd minute, with Atalanta now two points behind Napoli.
Meanwhile, Gift Orban’s debut for Hoffenheim ended in defeat following a 1-0 loss to Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga on Saturday.
Nigerian striker Orban joined Hoffenheim from Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon in the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old was named in the starting line-up for Hoffenheim but was then replaced in the 60th minute.
His Nigerian teammate Kevin Akpoguma was introduced before the start of the second half.
In his first season at Lyon in 2023/2024, Orban managed just one goal in 13 Ligue 1 games.
Before his transfer to Hoffenheim this term, the Super Eagles invitee scored two goals in three league appearances.
It is now eight straight games for Hoffenheim without a win (five defeats, three draws).
The defeat to Wolfsburg means Hoffenheim are in 15th position on 13 points in the league table and six points from the relegation zone.
In other Bundesliga games played on Saturday, Heidenheim beat Union Berlin 2-0, Freiburg defeated Holstein Kiel 3-2, Mainz overcame Bochum 2-0 and Eintracht Frankfurt pipped St. Pauli 1-0.
