LOOKMAN SHINES AS ATALANTA SWEEPS FRANKFURT ASIDE IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
By: Gyang Dakwo
Ademola Lookman gave his finest Champions League display of the season when he helped Atalanta to a clear 3 to 0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night. The winger had been quiet in Europe this season, yet he came alive in Germany with a goal and an assist during a strong second half that settled the match.
The first half was tight, and both sides struggled to find any rhythm, yet Atalanta returned after the break with more drive. Lookman opened the scoring in the sixtieth minute when he timed his run well and met a low cross from Charles De Ketelaere, and he finished from close range. Two minutes later he created the second goal, and he slipped a neat pass to Éderson, who placed his shot calmly.
The pressure continued. De Ketelaere added the third goal in the sixty fifth minute and he finished a smooth team move that put the result beyond Frankfurt. The win took Atalanta to ten points from five matches, and it kept them in the chase for a top eight finish as they prepare for an important game against Chelsea.
For Lookman, the night felt like a lift after a slow start to the season, and his efforts last year, with five goals and two assists, were important in Atalanta’s European run.
In other matches involving Nigerian players, results were mixed. Raphael Onyedika played the full match as Club Brugge fell 3 to 0 to Sporting CP. He had only just returned from injury, and this was his third Champions League appearance after scoring in the club’s big 4 to 1 win over Monaco earlier in the campaign. Vince Osuji stayed on the bench.
George Ilenikhena, who is nineteen, also remained on the bench as AS Monaco drew 2 to 2 with Pafos FC in Cyprus.
Bayern Munich’s Wisdom Mike and Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri were unused substitutes. Nwaneri has already played twice in the competition this season, and Arsenal’s 3 to 1 win over PSG pushed them three points clear at the top of the group with a perfect five match record.
Liverpool’s young winger Rio Ngumoha watched from the bench as the team suffered a heavy 4 to 1 loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield, and it marked their ninth defeat in twelve matches in a difficult run for the Premier League champions.
In Greece, Bruno Onyemaechi stayed on the bench as Olympiacos lost 4 to 3 to Real Madrid, and Kylian Mbappé scored all four goals for the Spanish side.
