UCL: Lookman scores, misses penalty as Brugge eliminate Atalanta
•Chukwueze’ Milan crash out against Feyenoord
ATALANTA 1-3 CLUB BRUGGE (2-5 AGG)
Ademola Lookman marked his return from injury with a goal, but he also missed a penalty as Atalanta were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Club Brugge on Tuesday, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
The reigning African Player of The Year has been out since the end of January with a knee injury, and he needed just 35 seconds to make his presence felt after he was brought on at halftime with the Italian side down by three goals.
The deficit on the night then quickly looked like it would be halved when, after a VAR review, Tzolis was adjudged to have hauled Cuadrado to the ground. Lookman, however, saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Mignolet, who soon denied Retegui as Club Brugge did well to limit Atalanta’s opportunities.
La Dea’s frustration was compounded late on as skipper Rafael Tolói was sent off for knocking over Maxim De Cuyper after the left-back prevented a quick throw-in, allowing the visitors to comfortably see out the contest for a memorable victory.
Club Brugge emphatically ended their seven-game winless away run against Italian opposition (D2, L5), beating Atalanta 3-1 in Bergamo and 5-2 on aggregate to reach the UEFA Champions League last 16.
Atalanta’s wait for consecutive UCL home wins therefore goes on, while Club Brugge are in dreamland ahead of a potential tie against either Lille or Aston Villa next month.
MILAN 1-1 FEYENOORD (1-2 AGG)
Despite levelling the aggregate score after a minute, Samuel Chukwueze and his AC Milan teammates crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the knockout play-off round after a 1-1 draw on the night by Feyenoord, losing the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
A lightning-quick start saw Malick Thiaw keep the ball alive at the far post, and after he headed back across goal, Feyenoord old-boy Santiago Giménez rose highest to head home just a month after his move from Rotterdam.
It was largely one-way traffic towards the Feyenoord goal up to halftime, and João Félix almost edged them ahead in the tie, when his wicked strike forced an impressive save out of Timon Wellenreuther. Moments later, Rafael Leão ghosted in behind Givairo Read, but Wellenreuther denied him at his near post to keep the scores level on aggregate.
Milan were in the ascendancy throughout the opening stages of the second half too, but their chances of progression took a blow when Theo Hernández dived in the area and was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Feyenoord took advantage of their numbers and found a moment of quality a little under 20 minutes from time. Hugo Bueno was afforded the freedom of the San Siro on the left, and he planted an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Julián Carranza, who powered home from six yards.
Chukwueze was introduced 10 minutes later for his seventh UCL appearance of the season but Milan completely lost their momentum after that red card and were knocked out by the Dutch side.
