Ademola Lookman made an immediate impact on his return from injury, scoring just 36 seconds after coming on, but his effort was not enough to prevent Atalanta from exiting the UEFA Champions League.
The Super Eagles forward, who had been sidelined for six weeks with a knee injury, was introduced at half-time in the second leg of their playoff tie against Club Brugge.
Atalanta were already 3-0 down on the night and 5-1 on aggregate when Lookman replaced Mario Pašalić.
The Nigerian wasted no time, finding the net with his first real involvement to offer Atalanta a glimmer of hope. However, his night was overshadowed by a missed penalty in the 61st minute, a crucial moment that could have further cut the deficit.
A mixed performance for Lookman
Despite the disappointment of elimination, Lookman put in an impressive shift in his 48-minute cameo. He recorded three shots on target, successfully completed three of his four dribbles, and won five of his nine ground duels.
The Charlton Atheltic product was also heavily involved in build-up play, registering 41 touches, 21 accurate passes (84%), and one key pass. However, his penalty miss and one big chance squandered proved costly.
Lookman’s European campaign has been impressive, with five goals and one assist in seven games, earning two Man of the Match awards along the way. But his return to action ended in frustration as Atalanta bowed out of the competition
While Lookman’s night ended in frustration, fellow Nigerian Raphael Onyedika was on the winning side, playing the entire 90 minutes for Club Brugge. The midfielder picked up a yellow card in the first half but remained solid as Brugge secured their place in the round of 16.
