Champions League ROUND-OFF

Osimhen’s Galatasaray Crash Out at Anfield as Lookman’s Atletico, Bayern and Barca March Into Quarter-Finals

It was a night of mixed fortunes for Nigerian footballers in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, as Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray were swept aside at Anfield while Ademola Lookman’s Atletico Madrid held firm to book their place in the last eight.

The Super Eagles talisman started for Galatasaray at Anfield but could do little to stop a rampant Liverpool side.

Osimhen, who started the encounter, struggled to influence proceedings before being substituted at half-time after picking up an earlier knock.

Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring on 25 minutes before Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah who bagged his 50th Champions League goal completed a ruthless second half display to send the Reds through 4-0 on the night.

Despite being one of the competition’s top scorers this season, Osimhen was unable to make his mark as Galatasaray’s European adventure came to a painful end.

Over in London, Lookman put in another influential shift for Atletico Madrid against Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs were brave on the night, winning 3-2 through a Xavi Simons brace and a Randal Kolo Muani goal, but the damage had already been done in the first leg. Atletico’s 5-2 advantage proved too much to overcome, and Lookman’s quality across both legs was a decisive factor.

The Super Eagles winger played the majority of the match before being withdrawn as Atletico calmly saw out the tie.

Elsewhere, Barcelona were in scintillating form, thrashing Newcastle 7-2 at the Camp Nou in a performance that underlined their status as genuine title contenders. Bayern Munich were equally dominant, putting four past Atalanta to ease into the quarter-finals with a comfortable win in Munich.

Results: Liverpool 4-0 Galatasaray Tottenham 3-2 Atletico Madrid (ATM advance 7-5 on agg.) Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle Bayern Munich 4-1 Atalanta