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Serie A: Dashed debut dreams for Oyegoke as Atalanta crush Verona without Lookman

3 hours ago
by naijaonpoint
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Daniel Oyegoke’s Serie A debut was far from a dream start as the Anglo-Nigerian defender featured in Hellas Verona’s crushing 5-0 home defeat to Atalanta, Soccernet.football reports.

Verona secured the 22-year-old right-back’s permanent transfer from Hearts of Midlothian for €400,000 during the January window. However, he remained an unused substitute in their 1-0 win over Monza on February 1 and once again started on the bench against Atalanta.

Even if Oyegoke had been in the starting lineup, he wouldn’t have faced Atalanta’s star winger Ademola Lookman, who was sidelined with a knee injury.

Despite missing the reigning African Player of the Year, Atalanta were ruthless, racing to a 5-0 lead within 56 minutes.

Italy international Mateo Retegui stole the show with an astonishing four-goal haul, while midfield dynamo Éderson added a fifth.

Hellas Verona manager Paolo Zanetti handed Oyegoke his Serie A debut in the 64th minute, giving the England youth international his first taste of Italian top-flight football. The defender put in a solid shift, helping contain Atalanta’s attack and preventing further embarrassment for the hosts.

However, Verona’s blunt attack meant there was no way back, as they slumped to their joint-heaviest league defeat of the season.

Atalanta had already dismantled them 6-1 earlier in the campaign, while Inter Milan inflicted a similar 5-0 thrashing at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi in November.

Oyegoke, who previously gained experience in the Europa Conference League and the Scottish Premiership, will be hoping to use his versatility and defensive qualities to aid Verona’s fight for survival.

Verona sit 13th in Serie A with 23 points, but with only a three-point cushion above the relegation zone, Zanetti’s men cannot afford to be complacent.

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