A resolute performance from Club Brugge thwarted Ademola Lookman's Champions League rescue mission with Atalanta, as the Belgian club claimed a hard-fought 3-1 win at the Gewiss Stadium, Soccernet.ng reports.
Atalanta welcomed Club Brugge to Bergamo for the second leg of their crunch UEFA Champions League round of 16 playoff. The first leg ended 2-1 in Belgium, with Brugge needing a last-minute penalty goal to win.
Super Eagles forward Lookman missed the game as he was struggling with a knee injury. However, he was passed fit for the second leg as coach Gian Pero Gasperini named him on the bench.
Atalanta were expected to start on the front foot to offset the one-goal deficit from the first leg. However, they had a poor start as Chemsdine Talbi scored the opener for Club Brugge inside three minutes. Twenty-four minutes later, the Belgian forward doubled his side's lead.
Onyedika had a great performance in midfield, but he got yellow-carded for a foul in the 36th minute.
Atalanta dominated possession in the first half, but a resolute Club Brugge side outclassed them. Ferran Jutgla scored the third for the Belgian champions a few seconds before the break, giving them a three-goal cushion.
Gasperini introduced Loookman at halftime. Given the Nigerian's performance in the past year, the substitution was expected to change the game.
The Nigerian forward lived up to the billing and struck in the opening minute of the first half. He connected well with a low cross from Davide Zappacosta and sent a low shot into the net to make it 3-1.
‘ –
47′ Bayern Munich 0 – 0 Celtic
46' Benfica 1- 0 MonacoAdemola ️
Stream #UCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/6JVtP32Kln
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 18, 2025
Lookman's addition to the game obviously boosted Atalanta, as they created chances aplenty at the start of the second half. Lookman even put the ball in the net again in the 58th minute, but it was disallowed due to an offside.
But just two minutes later, Atalanta won a penalty after a VAR review. Lookman took charge of the responsibility, but Simon Mignolet saved his strike.
Poor strike by Lookman
How can you miss this penalty pic.twitter.com/TknbPGe34c— Mr Klemzy (@bi_smart_wai) February 18, 2025
That miss took the wind out of Atalanta's sails, as they did not create as many chances as they did at the start of the half. Lookman, Sead Kolasinac, and Mateo Retegui had some good opportunities, but Mignolet was in his elements on the night and saved their efforts. Atalanta registered 30 attempts; 11 were on target, but only one found its way into the net.
It eventually ended 3-1 after 90 minutes and 5-2 on aggregate, sealing Club Brugge's place in the round of 16.
Feyenoord send Samuel Chukwueze's AC Milan out of the Champions League
Lookman is not the only Nigerian player knocked out of the Champions League. Compatriot Samuel Chukwueze was also on the losing end as AC Milan played a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord at the San Siro.
The Rossoneri lost the first leg of the tie 1-0, but they were favourites to win the second leg in Italy. Chukwueze has been a bench warmer in recent weeks and he retained his place.
Santiago Gimenez scored the opener for AC Milan, but the game slipped out of the Italian side's hands after Theo Hernandez was sent off in the 51st minute. Feyenoord soon capitalised, as Julian Carranza made it 1-1 after 73 minutes.
Chukwueze was then introduced into the game in the 83rd minute when AC Milan were desperately searching for a goal. Unfortunately for them, he did not do much as the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
However, Feyenoord advanced to the round of 16 after winning the first leg 1-0.
