Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman delivered his most decisive Champions League performance of the season, inspiring Atalanta to a commanding 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at the Deutsche Bank Park. After a relatively quiet European campaign and a slow start to the season, marked by transfer speculations and a single goal across all competitions, the Super Eagles winger burst into life with a goal and an assist during a devastating second-half spell that settled the contest. This crucial upturn in form follows a period where his performance was reportedly affected by a summer transfer saga, including interest from Inter Milan and Galatasaray, and alleged tensions with former coaches.

The match, which was new coach Raffaele Palladino's Champions League debut for Atalanta (having replaced Ivan Juric), saw a tight first half where both sides struggled to find rhythm. However, La Dea returned with greater intent after the break. Lookman broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, perfectly timing his run to meet a precise low cross from Charles De Ketelaere and sweep home from close range with his weaker right foot. Just two minutes later, the Nigerian turned creator, slipping an intelligent pass into the path of Éderson, who finished confidently to double the Italian side's advantage. The flurry did not stop there, as De Ketelaere added a third in the 65th minute, rounding off a sweeping move to place the game firmly out of Frankfurt’s reach.

For Lookman, the performance marks a welcome resurgence. His contributions last term, including a memorable hat-trick in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final which secured Atalanta’s first European title, set high expectations. Netizens and coach Palladino have credited the new manager's attacking and entertaining football philosophy for unlocking Lookman's potential. Lookman himself has publicly affirmed his commitment to Atalanta, putting past transfer controversies behind him, and focusing on winning games with the team under Palladino, whose style of play he praises for giving "plenty of space to attack."

The 3-0 away win lifts Atalanta to 10 points from five matches, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top-eight finish in the Champions League standings. This victory provides a much-needed "spark" and momentum for the team's growth as they prepare for a pivotal clash with Chelsea in the Champions League and Fiorentina in Serie A. Coach Palladino expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, thanking his players for listening to his half-time tips on positioning, which proved instrumental in the second-half goal blitz.

In the Nigerian football community, Lookman's return to peak form is seen as a significant boost for the Super Eagles ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign. A fully fit and confident Lookman is considered essential for Nigeria's attacking options, as he is one of the few players capable of creating chances, carrying the team in tough situations, and producing big-game moments.

Elsewhere across Europe, other Nigerian players experienced contrasting fortunes. Raphael Onyedika featured for the full 90 minutes as Club Brugge suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at Sporting CP. Vince Osuji, George Ilenikhena (AS Monaco), Wisdom Mike (Bayern Munich), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal, who secured a 3-1 victory over PSG), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool, who endured a 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven), and Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, who fell 4-3 to Real Madrid, with Kylian Mbappé scoring all four goals for the Spanish giants) all remained unused substitutes for their respective teams.