UEFA Europa League champions Atalanta have been hit with a major blow, with Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League match against Spanish giants Barcelona.
The reigning African footballer of the year is reportedly out of action with a knee injury, which will keep him out of action for the coming weeks, starting with the final group game of the UEFA Champions League against the Blaugrana.
The former Everton winger has been instrumental to Atalanta’s remarkable rise in recent seasons, and was key to their Europa League triumph last season with an outstanding hat-trick in the final against German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
This season, the 27-year old has continued his brilliance with 14 goals and seven assists in 27 matches across all competitions, as La Dea currently occupy the third spot on the Italian Serie A standings, while they sit seventh on the UCL standings, guaranteed a spot in the next round of the competition.
In news confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, the Super Eagles star is suspected to have suffered the injury after Atalanta’s weekend victory over Como and although the extent of his injury is not yet determined, it is a huge blow to Gian Piero Gasperini’s side as they hope to challenge for the league and continental crown.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
