Second-half goals from Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Nicolo Zaniolo secured Atalanta a 2-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The win keeps Atalanta’s record intact, as they remain the only team in this season’s competition yet to concede a goal.
The breakthrough came in the 51st minute when Lookman scored from close range, tapping in a cross from Charles De Ketelaere. With Stuttgart struggling to break down the Atalanta defense, Zaniolo sealed the win with a second goal two minutes from time.
The defeat ended Stuttgart’s impressive 12-month unbeaten home run in all competitions, while Atalanta extended their own unbeaten streak to eight matches.
With the result, Atalanta moved up to ninth in the standings with eight points, while Stuttgart slipped out of the playoff zone, dropping to 27th with four points.
“We came here with ambition, but from there to winning is a long way off,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini told Sky Sport. “Stuttgart had won in Turin against Juventus. The way we won today gives us confidence. We won with personality.”
Atalanta controlled possession in the first half, but it was Stuttgart who looked more dangerous, with Anthony Rouault narrowly missing a header from inside the six-yard box. Stuttgart’s best opportunity came at the end of the half when Deniz Undav was set up for a close-range shot but fired into the side netting.
De Ketelaere was introduced at the start of the second half, and it was his skillful dribbling past two defenders that led to the first goal. He delivered a perfect cross to Lookman, who made no mistake with the tap-in.
Stuttgart, who had beaten Juventus 1-0 in their previous Champions League match, were unable to break down Atalanta’s defense, and the visitors wrapped up the win late on. Substitute Zaniolo capitalized on a defensive error, rounding goalkeeper Alexander Nubel to score in a one-on-one.
Atalanta, along with Inter Milan, are the only teams in the competition yet to concede after four matches, putting them in a strong position at the halfway point of the group stage.
“We’ve shown great solidity in all our games, and we haven’t suffered much,” Gasperini said. “We’ve built our success on a solid defensive foundation.”
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