Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman will be aiming to inspire Atalanta to another crucial Champions League victory when the Italian side host Premier League outfit Chelsea on Tuesday, Bold Sports reports.
Atalanta enter the highly-anticipated tie on the back of impressive continental form, having secured two consecutive wins in the tournament, including a dominant 3-0 triumph over Frankfurt.
Raffaele Palladino’s men currently sit 10th in the league-phase standings, and another victory could push them into the top eight as the competition intensifies.
On the domestic front, Atalanta’s momentum was dented during the weekend following a 3-1 defeat to Hellas Verona, a result that snapped their three-game winning streak across all competitions.
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Lookman, whose performances have improved under Raffaele Palladino, will hope to play a decisive role as Atalanta seek a response to the disappointing result. The Nigerian international has notched two goals and an assist in his last three outings, an impressive turnaround after managing just one goal in his previous 11 matches.
Chelsea, on the other hand, will be eager to secure victory following a recent loss of form which has seen them drop to fifth in the Premier League after a 3-1 defeat to 16th placed Leeds and a draw with Bournemouth.
The Blues sit seventh in the Champions League standings with 10 points, but a defeat to Atalanta could take them out of the top eight. Enzo Maresca’s side will want to avoid this situation as finishing outside the top eight will mean competing in the playoffs, adding extra fixtures to an already clogged schedule.
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