Ademola Lookman showcased his brilliance for Atalanta in a thrilling 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Despite Lookman’s 72nd-minute strike — his third goal in five UCL matches — Atalanta fell short against the Spanish giants in a match that held significant stakes for both teams.
Real Madrid, defending champions, had only two wins from four games and were under pressure to revive their campaign after back-to-back losses. The game, a repeat of the 2024 UEFA Super Cup (also won by Madrid), started brightly with Kylian Mbappé giving the visitors an early lead in the 10th minute. Atalanta responded with resilience as Charles De Ketelaere converted a penalty on the stroke of halftime, ensuring parity at the break.
The perennial European champions, however, dominated the second half. Vinícius Júnior restored Madrid’s lead in the 56th minute with a first-time finish, followed by Jude Bellingham’s powerful low strike three minutes later to make it 3-1.
Lookman’s goal, a moment of brilliance, came from a long ball that he controlled on the edge of the penalty area before squeezing a low shot past Thibaut Courtois. Despite Atalanta’s valiant efforts, they could not find an equalizer. Madrid’s victory moves them to nine points, reigniting their hopes of qualification, while Atalanta sit higher on the log with 11 points.
Elsewhere, Liverpool continued their perfect record, securing a 1-0 win over Girona thanks to Mohamed Salah’s penalty, which confirmed their progression to the knockout phase. Paris Saint-Germain earned a much-needed 3-0 win against RB Salzburg, while Bayern Munich hammered Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1. Club Brugge, with Nigeria’s Raphael Onyedika playing the full match, defeated Sporting Lisbon 2-1 to tighten their grip on a playoff spot. Aston Villa edged RB Leipzig 3-2 with Ross Barkley’s late winner, and Bayer Leverkusen secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Inter Milan.
As the group stage heats up, teams are intensifying their push for knockout stage qualification, setting the stage for more high-stakes action.
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