“Burns me” – Bayern star recalls Europa experience with Lookman ahead of Atalanta clash

Bayern Munich and Croatia defender Josip Stanisic has recalled his experience with Ademola Lookman ahead of his side’s Round of Sixteen clash against Atalanta, Afrik Foot reports.

The 25-year-old joined Bayern’s youth setup in 2017 and went through the ranks up until he made his first appearance for the club’s senior side in 2021.

He’d go on to make 41 appearances over the next two seasons before joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen on loan in the summer of 2023.

In the same transfer window, two Super Eagles – Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface also joined Die Werkself.

Under Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen did the unthinkable. The Spanish manager made the Bay Arena roar as Bayer won their first-ever Bundesliga title.

Additionally, they won the DFB Pokal and got to the UEFA Europa League final, all whilst maintaining a 49-game unbeaten record.

Ademola Lookman, though, would eventually end the dream for Leverkusen. The Nigerian scored a hat-trick in Dublin to seal Atalanta’s first-ever major trophy, whilst becoming the only player to have scored a treble in a major European final.

Bayern vs Atalanta: Josip Stanisic recalls Lookman encounter

Lookman’s former club, Atalanta, welcome Bayern Munich to the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo tonight.

Raffaele Palladino’s side qualified for the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen by overturning a first-leg two-goal deficit against Borussia Dortmund.

Ahead of the trip to Italy, Stanisic recalled the last time he played against Atalanta, and how Ademola Lookman made him look stupid in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final in Dublin.

“It still burns me a little bit to think back to defeat,” the Croatian recalls the 0-3 Europa League loss.

“Lookman was exceptional, of course I also contributed giving him too much space. I don’t want to play like that today,” Stanisic said in quotes revealed by Gazzetta.It.

It’ll be a first encounter between Atalanta and Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.