Nigerian football stars such as Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Raphael Onyedika face critical UEFA Champions League playoff second-leg tests on Tuesday, as they seek to help their respective clubs secure a spot in the competition’s last 16.
Onyedika’s Club Brugge holds a narrow 2-1 lead over Lookman’s Atalanta going into their second-leg clash at the Gewiss Stadium, while Chukwueze’s AC Milan must overturn a 1-0 deficit against Feyenoord at the San Siro.
In the first leg, Onyedika played a key role in Club Brugge’s victory, completing the full 90 minutes as Gustaf Nilsson’s dramatic 94th-minute penalty secured a hard-fought win after Mario Pasalic had equalized for Atalanta following Ferran Jutgla’s opening goal. However, Lookman missed that encounter due to injury but could make his return for the decisive second leg, as Atalanta aims to reach the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time since the 2020/21 season.
Atalanta’s recent form adds complexity to their challenge, having won only one of their last six competitive home matches. They enter the game following a 0-0 draw with Cagliari in Serie A, which dented their title hopes and left them five points behind leaders Inter Milan. Their European campaign has been turbulent, with a late 2-2 draw against Barcelona in the group stage preventing automatic qualification for the knockout rounds, forcing them into the playoffs.
For Club Brugge, who finished 24th in the group stage but advanced on goal difference over Dinamo Zagreb, history favors their chances. The Belgian champions have progressed from 14 of their last 16 European knockout ties when winning the first leg at home. They demonstrated their resilience at the weekend, coming back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Sint-Truiden, extending their unbeaten run to four matches.
Chukwueze’s AC Milan faces an equally difficult task after a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Feyenoord, where a third-minute strike from Igor Paixao proved decisive, capitalizing on an error by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Milan’s record offers little optimism, having progressed from just one of their last six Champions League knockout ties after losing the first leg – a comeback against Manchester United in the 2006/07 semi-finals. However, their strong home form could provide a glimmer of hope. Milan is unbeaten in 12 consecutive home games at San Siro, last losing there in October to Napoli. They enter the second leg following a 1-0 Serie A victory over Hellas Verona, with a goal from former Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez.
Feyenoord, under interim manager Pascal Bosschaart after the surprise sacking of Brian Priske, secured a historic 1-0 win in the first leg, their first-ever victory over an Italian club in 16 attempts. The Dutch side hopes to reach the Champions League last 16 for the first time since the 1974/75 season, but they must overcome their poor away form, having failed to win in their last five road games across all competitions.
The winner of the Milan-Feyenoord tie will face either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the last 16, while Atalanta or Club Brugge’s opponent will be determined by the other results from Tuesday’s games.
