Nigeria international, Ademola Lookman was overjoyed after being named Player of the Match in Atalanta’s impressive 3-0 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in a UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday night at VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
The Nigeria international played a pivotal role in the win, scoring one goal and providing an assist as Atalanta secured their first victory of the series.
“It’s always nice to receive these awards, but we wouldn’t have been able to do that without the team,” Lookman said after the match.
“The team had a very good performance today.”
Lookman assisted Berat Djimsiti for the opening goal in the 21st minute before doubling the lead with a close-range finish on the stroke of halftime, marking his first-ever Champions League goal. This performance made him only the second Atalanta player to register both a goal and an assist in a single Champions League game after Duvan Zapata.
The 25-year-old, fondly called “The King of Bergamo” by Atalanta fans, emphasised the importance of the win, especially after their goalless draw against Arsenal in their opening match.
“I am very happy with the victory. I think tonight’s victory was very important for us to make another step stronger in Europe,” he added.
Lookman’s stellar performance in the Champions League comes amid growing interest from several Premier League clubs.
Since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 for €9.35m plus bonuses, Lookman has been in scintillating form, amassing 33 goals and 19 assists in 81 competitive appearances. His contributions were crucial in Atalanta’s triumph in the UEFA Europa League campaign last season, scoring an historic hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman’s impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, with several top European clubs, including Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Juventus, reportedly showing interest during the 2025 summer transfer window.
With three goals and two assists to his name this season, Lookman continues to boost his chances of claiming the 2024 African Player of the Year award.
Credit: punchng.com
