Super Eagles stars Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika face crucial Champions League tests against London giants this week as Atalanta host Chelsea and Club Brugge travel to Arsenal, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Both matches carry significant implications for the Nigerian duo’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages, with Atalanta and Chelsea level on 10 points after five matchdays, while Brugge occupy a precarious 26th position.
Lookman’s Atalanta welcome Chelsea to Bergamo on Tuesday, with both sides boasting identical records of three wins, one draw and one defeat. The Blues sit seventh courtesy of a superior goal difference, while La Dea are 10th.
Chelsea head to Italy on the back of a 3-0 victory over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, where Enzo Maresca’s men exploited the Blaugrana’s high defensive line to secure their third win in four Champions League matches.
However, the Conference League holders have struggled domestically since that triumph, claiming just two points from three Premier League games.
Atalanta also enter the clash on the back of a domestic setback, having seen their three-game winning run across all competitions end in a shock 3-1 Serie A loss to Hellas Verona on Saturday.
Despite their recent struggles, Atalanta’s Champions League form has been impressive, with a 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt and wins over Marseille helping them amass 10 points from their last 12 on offer.
Lookman was instrumental in the Frankfurt triumph, scoring once and providing an assist in one of his finest European performances.
Meanwhile, Onyedika faces an uphill battle as Brugge travel to face Arsenal on Wednesday. The Belgian side are in 26th place with just one point from their last 12 on offer in the competition.
Arsenal, who thrashed Bayern Munich 3-1 on matchday five, sit top of the 36-team standings with a perfect record and need just one more win to secure their place in the last 16.
Brugge’s only victory came on the opening day against Monaco, and they have since drawn with Barcelona and lost to Atalanta, Bayern and Sporting Lisbon. A comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Sporting in their last outing left them facing the prospect of early elimination.
The Belgians have also struggled domestically, falling to consecutive defeats against Royal Antwerp and St Truiden, leaving them third in the Jupiler Pro League standings and five points adrift of leaders Union SG.
Onyedika, who has one goal in two Champions League games this season, will need to produce a disciplined display similar to his performance in Brugge’s 3-3 draw with Barcelona if his side are to have any chance against the in-form Gunners.
