As the UEFA Champions League league phase heats up, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika are at the heart of pivotal matches for their clubs. With the top 8 securing direct knockout spots and 9th–24th entering playoffs, every point counts in the congested table.
Lookman’s Atalanta: 7 Points, 13th Place – Frankfurt at Home
Atalanta sits 13th with 7 points from four games (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss). Their campaign: A 1-0 win over Marseille, solid away result, but a 4-0 thrashing by PSG. They boast 3 clean sheets matched only by Inter, Arsenal, and PSG since last season.
Wednesday’s home clash with Eintracht Frankfurt (4 points, 22nd) could propel them into auto-qualification. Frankfurt drew Napoli but lost heavily to Atletico and Liverpool.
New coach Raffaele Palladino, replacing Ivan Juric after a poor Serie A run, backs Lookman: “I spoke to Ademola during international duty. He’s a game-changer, and I’m counting on him.”
Lookman (1 goal in 11 games) seeks form amid Galatasaray transfer rumors (€50m bid rumored, with Osimhen pushing).
Onyedika’s Club Brugge: 4 Points, 22nd Place – Sporting Lisbon Away
Club Brugge is in peril at 22nd with 4 points (1 win, 1 draw, 2 losses). Highlights: 4-1 over Monaco, 3-3 with Barcelona; lowlights: losses to Atalanta and Bayern.
Wednesday’s trip to Sporting Lisbon (7 points, 9th) is do-or-die. Onyedika (1 goal in 2 UCL games) shone vs Barcelona and is valued at €20m, eyed by Premier League and Serie A clubs.
The Stakes
Top 8 advance directly; 9th–24th to playoffs. Both clubs need wins to climb from danger zones.
Nigerian talents Lookman and Onyedika can swing these ties — and their futures.
