Champions League: Bayer Leverkusen soar without Boniface; Lookman ignored as Atalanta smash Young Boys

The UEFA Champions League returned with its high-octane action on Tuesday, and some clubs with Nigerian players were on duty, Soccernet.ng reports.

The first game of the day involving a Nigerian player was between Slovan Bratislava and AC Milan. Super Eagles star Samuel Chukwueze started for the Rossoneri in attack, alongside Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham.

It was supposed to be an easy fixture for AC Milan, as Slovan Bratislava had lost their previous four games in the competition. But the Rossoneri made it difficult for themselves.

AC Milan scored the opener through Christian Pulisic, but the Slovakian side equalized through Tigran Barseghyan just three minutes laster.

Leao and Abraham scored in the second half to make it 3-1. But Nino Marcelli scored in the 89th minute to ensure a nervy end to the fixture.

Samuel Chukwueze did not score, but he had a great showing. He registered 43 passes, two key passes, three shots, three dribbles, and three tackles. The Super Eagles star played the entire 90 minutes and was one of the best players on the pitch.

Elsewhere in Czech Republic, Victor Olatunji got just 30 minutes of action in Sparta Prague’s 6-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. It was an abysmal showing for the Czech champions, as goals from Julian Alvarez, Angel Correa, Marcos Llorente, and Antoine Greizmann sealed the win for Atleti. Olatunji was anonymous in the game, registering just one wayward shot in the game.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Victor Boniface was not in Bayer Leverkusen’s matchday squad for their game against RB Salzburg due to injury, but his absence was not felt as they claimed a 5-0 win.

Patrik Schick, who led the line in Boniface’s absence scored, while Florian Wirtz contributed a brace. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia sealed the win for the defending Bundesliga champions. Nigerian star Nathan Tella got 22 minutes of action, as he replaced Jeremie Frimpong.

In Switzerland, Ademola Lookman was benched in Atalanta’s 6-1 bashing of Young Boys. The Super Eagles star, who has been talisman for La Dea this season, was surprisingly dropped from the starting eleven.

Eventually, Atalanta did not really need him, as goals from Charles De Ketelaere, Mario Retegui, and Sead Kolasinac sealed the win.

Champions League action will continue on Wednesday, and Nigerian players will be looking to shine brightly for their clubs.