Ademola Lookman and Gian Pero Gasperini (Photo credit: Imago)
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.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles midfield engine Raphael Onyedika, a constant fixture in Club Brugge’s midfield, maintained his place in the starting eleven.
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.
More to follow…
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