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UCL: Ademola Lookman Strikes to take Atalanta to Round of 16

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UCL: Ademola Lookman Strikes to take Atalanta to Round of 16

By Monsurah Olatunji

Reigning African Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, found the net as Atalanta stormed into the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a dominant 5-0 victory over Sturm Graz on Tuesday evening at the Gewiss Stadium.

Lookman, who started the match on the bench, was introduced at halftime in place of Mateo Retegui. The Nigerian international was outstanding in the second half, capping off his performance with a powerful header in the 90th minute, assisted by Charles De Ketelaere.

Atalanta controlled the first half, with De Ketelaere, Davide Zappacosta, and Retegui all testing goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. Despite their dominance, it was only Retegui’s 12th-minute strike that gave them the lead going into the break.

In the second half, Atalanta doubled their advantage with Mario Pašalić’s goal in the 58th minute, as he tapped in Juan Cuadrado’s precise cross. De Ketelaere made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute, bundling the ball over the line following a corner-kick scramble.

Lookman then played a crucial role in the fourth goal, setting up Marco Brescianini for a stunning long-range strike in stoppage time to complete the emphatic 5-0 rout.

The 27-year-old forward has now contributed four goals and two assists in just six Champions League appearances this season, further cementing his reputation as one of the most impactful players in the competition.

With 14 points from seven matches, Atalanta have secured their progression to the knockout rounds with one game to spare, as they continue their impressive European campaign.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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