Sports

Champions League Play-Offs: Lookman Set For Atletico Showdown As Onyedika Misses Brugge Clash

Published February 24, 2026 at 7:49 AM

Two Nigerians took centre stage on a chaotic Champions League night in Belgium as Raphael Onyedika and Ademola Lookman both found the net in a dramatic 3-3 draw between Club Brugge and Atlético Madrid.

Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman will once again take centre stage when Atletico Madrid host Club Brugge at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the decisive second leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off.

After a breathless 3-3 draw in Belgium, the tie hangs delicately in the balance. The first meeting at the Jan Breydel Stadion delivered everything: goals, momentum swings and standout performances from two Super Eagles stars.

Lookman struck to make it 2-0 after Julian Alvarez had opened the scoring from the penalty spot. Showing sharp anticipation, the 28-year-old reacted quickest to a clever Antoine Griezmann flick from a corner and prodded home. At that point, Atletico looked set to take firm control of the tie.

But Raphael Onyedika inspired a rousing response from the Belgian side. The midfielder pulled one back by firing in a rebound after Jan Oblak’s save, before later threading a precise pass to Christos Tzolis, who finished calmly to level the contest at 3-3.

Brugge, however, must now cope without Onyedika. The 24-year-old was booked in the 76th minute for a foul on Marcos Llorente, triggering an automatic one-match suspension. Head coach Ivan Leko and former striker Marc Degryse have both lamented the absence of a player who was instrumental in the first leg.

Lookman heads into the clash in sparkling form. Since arriving from Atalanta in January, he has scored four goals and registered six assists in six appearances across all competitions. That return matches the best start by any Atletico player since the 2013-14 season, equalling the mark set by Luis Suarez in the 2020-21 campaign.

Despite the impressive numbers, manager Diego Simeone has challenged the Nigerian to contribute more beyond goals, underlining the demands placed on attacking players in his system.

Atletico will lean on a strong home record, having won three of their four Champions League matches at the Metropolitano this season. Yet there is a note of caution.

The Spanish side has not beaten Brugge in their last four meetings in the competition.

Brugge finished 19th in the League Phase with 10 points and has managed just one win in four European away matches this season. Still, their resilience in the first leg, when they twice fought back, offers genuine belief that another surprise is not beyond them.

With the aggregate score level, the scenario is straightforward. A win for either side secures a place in the last 16. If the goals flow as freely as they did in Belgium, extra time could yet be required.