Lookman’s Goal Not Enough as Real Madrid Win at Atalanta

*Salah’s goal moves Liverpool to Last 16

Femi Solaja with agency report

As expected, Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, had a great night for Atalanta and was on the scoresheet, but his effort was not enough. Real Madrid were the dominant side of the night, winning 3-2 away at Gewiss Stadiumin Bergamo.

The slim win, no doubt kept the defending champion on slim hope of automatic qualification in the tournament should they pick vital wins in their last two matches at home.

A dominant first-half showing saw Madrid take a deserved lead through Kylian Mbappe, whose departure from injury before the interval changed the narrative of the game.

Atalanta pounced on the uncertainty as Charles De Ketelaere scored a penalty with the final kick of the first half.

Vinicius Junior pounced on a fortunate deflection to restore Madrid’s advantage and Jude Bellingham scored soon after, but Atalanta slashed the deficit with Ademola Lookman’s fine strike from the edge of the box.

Atalanta had the momentum on their side and Lookman continued to torment Madrid’s makeshift defence, with the visitors forced to hold on and watch the clock tick down.

Mario Retegui should have scored in the dying embers, volleying over from three yards out when it looked easier to score.

The final whistle was music to the ears of every Madrid fan. Three points take them to within a further three of the automatic qualification spots, although that gap could be stretched slightly after tonight’s matches.

Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah’s enduring consistency extended the Champions League’s only 100 per cent record to six matches as his penalty secured Liverpool a 1-0 victory in Girona to virtually guarantee the leaders a place in the last 16.

The Egypt international became the 11th man to reach 50 Champions League goals, overtaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kylian Mbappe with Thierry Henry (51) and Thomas Muller (54) now in his sights.

Having missed from the spot a fortnight ago against Real Madrid, there was no mistake this time when presented with the opportunity in the 63rd minute to extend an impressive record of scoring in 11 of his last 16 matches.

It was his 16th goal of the season, his 47th for the Reds in European club football’s premier competition, and Liverpool’s 50th.

He also equalled Steven Gerrard’s club record of six Champions League penalties and is now just one goal behind Billy Liddell, fourth on the club’s all-time goalscoring list.

Salah benefited from a VAR intervention after it spotted Luis Diaz’s left boot had been removed by former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek’s ambitious attempt to nick the ball in the penalty area.

RESULTS(UCL)

Di’Zagreb 0-0 Celtic

Girona 0-1 Liverpool

Atalanta 2-3 R’Madrid

Leverkusen 1-0 Inter

Brest 1-0. PSV

C’Brugge 2-1 Sporting

RB Leipzig 2-3 Aston Villa

Salzburg 0-3 PSG

Shakhtar 1-5 B’Munich

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