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Super Eagles stars Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen were in action for Atalanta and Galatasaray, respectively, as European football delivered another thrilling matchday, Soccernet.football reports.
Ademola Lookman came off the bench to inspire Atalanta to a dominant 5-0 win over Austrian champions Sturm Graz, securing their place in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a game to spare against Barcelona.
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini initially left Lookman on the bench, and the Italian side laboured in the first half, relying on Mateo Retegui’s 12th-minute strike to take a slender lead into the break. Lookman replaced Retegui at halftime, and the game shifted dramatically.
The Nigerian winger played a key role in Atalanta’s attacking resurgence.
Though Charles De Ketelaere’s goal was ruled out for offside after a fine Lookman assist, there was no denying Lookman his moment in the 90th minute.
After De Ketelaere and Mario Pašalić had extended the lead to 3-0, Lookman struck decisively to put the game beyond doubt.
Substitute Marco Brescianini added a late flourish, completing a memorable victory for Atalanta — the Europa League winners’ first win of 2025 and their first home triumph in this season’s Champions League.
Osimhen stars in Galatasaray’s thrilling Europa League draw
Over in Turkey, Victor Osimhen delivered another standout performance as Galatasaray played out a pulsating 3-3 Europa League draw with Dynamo Kyiv.
Osimhen was at the heart of Galatasaray’s attack, with his clinical instincts and work rate evident from the blast of the whistle.
The Nigerian striker scored a vital penalty in the 53rd minute, calmly converting to give Galatasaray a 3-1 lead. The goal, his 15th of the season, brought his total goal contributions to an impressive 21 (15 goals, 6 assists).
The penalty, awarded after a VAR-confirmed handball, saw Osimhen dispatch a powerful strike into the centre of the net, sending Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret the wrong way.
Throughout the match, Osimhen tormented the Ukrainian defence. His aerial presence and sharp movement created numerous chances, including a towering header in the 63rd minute that forced an acrobatic save from Neshcheret.
However, despite Osimhen’s heroics, Galatasaray squandered their lead. Dynamo Kyiv rallied late, with Andriy Yarmolenko’s 81st-minute strike denying the Turkish side all three points.
