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Ademola Lookman watched from the sidelines as Atalanta ran riot in a 6-1 demolition of Young Boys at the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern.
Despite expectations that the Super Eagles winger would be part of the action, Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini chose to rest him, likely with an eye on the demanding fixture list ahead.
At the San Siro, Samuel Chukwueze was handed a starting role in AC Milan’s hard-fought 3-2 win over Slovan Bratislava.
Chukwueze didn’t get on the scoresheet but delivered an impressive performance, showing flair and determination throughout the game.
The Super Eagles star played the entire match, contributing significantly with sharp passing, decisive dribbles, and strong defensive efforts, further solidifying his place in Stefano Pioli’s side.
It was a tough outing for Victor Olatunji, who featured in Sparta Prague’s crushing 6-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid. Olatunji came off the bench for a 22-minute cameo but found himself largely isolated.
The Czech champions struggled to cope with the attacking firepower of Atletico, led by Julian Alvarez, Angel Correa, Marcos Llorente, and Antoine Griezmann.
Olatunji’s lone attempt on goal was off target, capping a frustrating night for the forward.
Meanwhile, at the BayArena, Nathan Tella made a late appearance in Bayer Leverkusen’s 5-0 rout of Salzburg. Tella replaced Jeremie Frimpong in the 68th minute, playing his part in closing out the game as Leverkusen cruised to victory.
Champions League action continues on Wednesday, with more Nigerian players set to take the stage, eager to leave their mark as the competition progresses.
