SUPER Eagles star Ademola Lookman made his first start for Atalanta this season as they defeated Club Brugge 2-1 in their UEFA Champions League clash in Bergamo tonight.
The Nigeria forward’s international teammate Raphael Onyedika, a regular starter for Club Brugge, was not in the visitors’ matchday squad as he is nursing a hamstring strain.
Lookman had boycotted Atalanta training for weeks after the club blocked his desired move to Serie A rivals Inter Milan, but he returned two weeks ago and came off the bench for the final three minutes of the 3-0 Serie A victory over Torino penultimate weekend.
The 27-year-old was then an unused substitute in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Juventus before making his first start under new head coach Ivan Juric today.
Lookman played for 62 minutes before making way for Kamaldeen Sulemana, who set up Atalanta’s winner for Mario Pasalic three minutes from time to earn the Italian side a comeback win.
Also in today’s Champions League early kick-off, Kylian Mbappe struck thrice as Real Madrid thrashed Kairat Almaty 5-0 in Kazakhstan.
Mbappe scored Real Madrid’s first three goals in the 25th, 52nd and 73rd minutes to net his fourth Champions League hat-trick, equalling fellow Frenchman Karim Benzema in the competition.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have the most hat-tricks in Champions League history with eight each, while Robert Lewandowski has six.