Champions League: Lookman scores in Atalanta’s win as Barcelona defeat Benfica in nine-goal cracker

Ademola Lookman scored one and was involved in another as Atalanta thrashed Sturm Graz 5-0 in their UEFA Champions League (UCL)group-stage encounter in Italy on Tuesday.

In one of the two early fixtures of the day, Lookman came on as a substitute to net the fourth goal. The 27-year-old’s mazy run also created Atalanta’s fifth goal against the Austrian champions, who had been on six weeks of winter break before the encounter.

Mateo Retegui had put the Bergamo side in the lead in the 12th minute, but they could not add more going into the interval when Lookman was brought on.

Then, Mario Pasalic stabbed the ball into the net to extend Atalanta’s lead before Charles de Keteleere tucked home a poor clearance to make it three-nil for the Europa League champions.

Lookman stole in at the back post to head into the net the fourth goal on the night, and his fourth UCL goal of the season.

The reigning CAF African Footballer of the Year slalomed past four players before finding Marco Brescianini with a pass that was eventually tucked in in added time to complete the thumping victory that sealed at least a play-off place for Atalanta in the UCL’s next phase.

Elsewhere, Barcelona scored thrice in the last 12 minutes to seal a 5-4 win over Benfica in Portugal and move up to second on the group log, while Liverpool maintained their perfect group record with a 2-1 win against Lille to book a place in the round of 16. The Reds have won all seven matches it has played in this season’s competition.

Raphael Onyedika, Nigerian international, played all 90 minutes in Club Brugge’s 0-0 draw with Juventus that maintains the Belgian club’s hopes of a playoff spot.