Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman stole the spotlight on Wednesday night, delivering a crucial assist in Atalanta’s Champions League defeat to Athletic Club.
The 28-year-old winger entered the match in the 66th minute, replacing Nicola Zalewski, and quickly made his mark.
Lookman’s Impact Off the Bench
Just 22 minutes later, Lookman set up Atalanta’s second goal, recording his second Champions League assist.
His first came on November 26, 2025, when he scored and assisted in Frankfurt’s 3-0 victory.
Fresh from a strong display at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he helped the Super Eagles finish third, Lookman continued to show his attacking prowess.
He contributed five goal involvements during the tournament, scoring twice and assisting three times.
A Thrilling but Heartbreaking Finish for Atalanta
Despite Lookman’s influence, Atalanta fell 3-2 at the Stadio di Bergamo. Scamacca gave the hosts an early lead in the 16th minute with a simple header, but Atalanta struggled to capitalise on their chances.
Two disallowed goals, including another by Scamacca, frustrated the home side before halftime.
Athletic Club turned the game around in the second half. Navarro orchestrated the equaliser, finding Guruzeta in the 58th minute, followed by a cross to Nico Serrano in the 70th.
Four minutes later, Navarro scored himself to put Athletic ahead 3-1. Atalanta’s hopes were briefly revived when Lookman assisted Krstovic’s 88th-minute goal, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a draw.
The defeat leaves Atalanta outside the top eight, in 13th place with 13 points, while Athletic Club boosted their playoff chances, climbing to 23rd place with eight points.
In another encounter, Victor Osimhen completed the full 90 minutes as Galatasaray earned a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Despite failing to get on the scoresheet, the forward was influential, fashioning a major opportunity and registering two key passes that kept the defense under pressure.
Coming off Nigeria’s bronze-medal finish at the 2025 AFCON, Osimhen has continued to underline his value at club level.
He has now recorded six goals from five Champions League outings this season, with coach Okan Buruk applauding his intensity, pressing, and all-round contribution to the team’s performance.