SUPER Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika were the centre of attention in the UEFA Champions League tonight for different reasons.
While Osimhen struck a hat-trick in a fine Galatasaray victory, Lookman was involved in a confrontation with Atalanta manager Ivan Juric, and Onyedika shone for Club Brugge as they played a thrilling 3-3 draw with Barcelona before he was withdrawn late due to an apparent injury.
Super Eagles talisman Osimhen, who the national team will be banking on in the World Cup play-offs next week, netted a second-half hat-trick, two of the goals from the penalty spot, as Galatasaray defeated Ajax 3-0 in Amsterdam.
The three goals, his first hat-trick in European competition, took Osimhen to the top of the Champions League scorers chart with six, one more than Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.
On his part, Lookman first had a goal disallowed for Atalanta by VAR in their 1-0 at Marseille, before getting rough handled by Juric.
Lookman was substituted off in the 75th minute, and as he passed Juric he said something.
The coach was apparently not happy with whatever Lookman said and he grabbed the Nigeria international by arm and shoved him as an argument ensued.
It is not the first time wantaway Lookman would clash with an Atalanta manager, after he was publicly scapegoated by Juric’s predecessor Gian Piero Gasperini for missing a penalty.
Onyedika received a 32nd minute yellow card but still posted an outstanding performance in midfield as Brugge led favourites Barcelona thrice in Belgium.
He was taken off six minutes from time after going down and calling for medical attention.
In other Champions League fixtures tonight, Manchester City saw off Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium with Haaland scoring against his former club, Newcastle United beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in England, and Jose Mourinho’s Benfica lost 1-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
In the earlier games, Qarabag secured their first-ever point against an English team as they drew 2-2 with Chelsea in Azerbaijan, while Pafos secured a famous 1-0 victory over Villarreal in Cyprus.
RESULTS
Qarabag 2-2 Chelsea
Pafos 1-0 Villarreal
Ajax 0-3 Galatasaray
Benfica 0-1 Leverkusen
Club Brugge 3-3 Barcelona
Inter 2-1 Kairat Almaty
Man City 4-1 B. Dortmund
Marseille 0-1 Atalanta
Newcastle 2-0 Athletic Club