Scamacca marks return to Atalanta action with big goal | OneFootball

Amid the Ademola Lookman controversy, there is at least some good news for Atalanta, as Gianluca Scamacca scored in a 2-1 friendly win over RB Leipzig, a year after his devastating knee injury.

La Dea are distracted right now by the news Lookman handed in a formal transfer request, trying to push through his move to Inter.

Meanwhile, his teammates were in action last night with a 2-1 friendly victory over RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena.

Loic Openda had opened the scoring early on, but Scamacca came off the bench at half-time and scored a well-taken individual goal on Daniel Maldini’s assist.

Youth player Lorenzo Bernasconi sealed the late winner on the volley.

Scamacca joy at full recovery

BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 29: Gianluca Scamacca of Italy, looks dejected after the team’s elimination from the tournament following the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between Switzerland and Italy at Olympiastadion on June 29, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

It was a big moment for Scamacca, who this time a year ago suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee that kept him out for over six months.

Just as he made his comeback for five minutes in February against Torino, the former West Ham United striker then sustained another serious injury, this time to his thigh.

That was the only game of his entire 2024-25 campaign, so this is going to be a fresh start for the 26-year-old.

“It has been a truly complicated year for me, staying away from the pitch, my teammates, and the daily life of a football player,” he told TuttoAtalanta.com.

“It was not easy, but it is in the past now. The worst is behind me, and I am ready to look forward. I can say that I learned a lot from this experience, both as a player and a person.”