Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is the poster boy tonight when the defending Champions Real Madrid hope to resurrect their thin quest for automatic qualification for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as they take on Serie A leaders Atalanta.
It will be a battle of the European champions this evening when the holders, Madrid visit the Gewiss Stadium to face the UEFA Europa League holders Atalanta.
Los Blancos have had a nightmare start to their Champions League title defence having lost three of their opening five matches in the competition, with their most recent defeat coming at Anfield where they were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool.
They currently sit in 24th spot in the Champions League table, with their hopes of automatic qualification for the knockout stages hanging by a thread, although they can take encouragement from their much-needed 3-0 victory over Girona on Saturday into their crucial match tonight.
Standing in their way now will be an Ademola Lookman-led Atalanta side who have been flying this season.
The Nigerian star has scored 10 goals and bagged five assists in 17 appearances in all competitions so far this season, and has formed a formidable partnership in the final third of the pitch with Charles De Ketelaere who boasts five goals and nine assists himself.
Having scored the winning goal for his side against Milan on Friday, Lookman will be carrying plenty of confidence into tonight’s match against Madrid in a bit to consolidate in the top-eight automatic finish at the end of this stage of the competition.
Gian Piero Gasperini‘s men are yet to be beaten in the Champions League this season and currently sit in fifth spot in the table having won three and drawn two of their opening five matches, proving Atalanta are indeed a side that can compete with Europe’s elite.
The two teams have already met this season when Real Madrid triumphed 2-0 over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup courtesy of goals from Federico Valverde, and Kylian Mbappé, a result Madrid will be desperate to replicate on Match-day six.
