Mixed Night for Nigerians in the Champions League: Lookman on Target as Atlético Beat Man United, Osimhen Fires Blank Against Barcelona

• It was a night of contrasting fortunes for Nigeria's stars in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Ademola Lookman came off the bench to seal Atlético Madrid's 2-0 win over Manchester United, Victor Osimhen completed 90 minutes on his return from injury but could not prevent Galatasaray's 4-1 home defeat to Barcelona, and Christian Nwachukwu played a late cameo as Sabah Baku claimed a historic first Champions League victory, in a game that also featured four more Nigerians on the Slavia Prague side.

Lookman the Super Sub in Madrid

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Ademola Lookman is making a habit of decisive moments in an Atlético shirt.

Introduced around the 70th minute with Atlético already leading through Pablo Barrios' strike inside the first minute, the Super Eagles forward needed just nine minutes to make his mark. In the 79th minute, Lookman was in the right place to convert a simple finish and seal a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Metropolitano.

The goal, his first in the Champions League for Atlético and his second of the season in all competitions; arrived five minutes after United had been reduced to ten men following Leny Yoro's dismissal. It capped a professional European night for Diego Simeone's side, who also had a Johnny Cardoso effort ruled out by VAR for handball in the build-up.

The win earned Atlético their first points of the league phase and extended their unbeaten run against Manchester United to five matches. For Lookman, who joined from Atalanta in February, it was another reminder of his big-game pedigree; the man who scored a hat-trick in a European final continues to deliver on the continental stage.

Osimhen Returns, But Barcelona Run Riot

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At RAMS Park in Istanbul, it was a far more difficult evening for Victor Osimhen.

The 27-year-old made his first start since suffering an adductor injury on September 4, completing the full 90 minutes in what was also his first Champions League appearance of the season. But there was to be no fairytale return, as Barcelona came from behind to win 4-1.

Galatasaray had taken a surprise 28th-minute lead when Aleksey Batrakov's shot deflected off João Cancelo and into the net, and briefly thought they had doubled the advantage before Barış Alper Yılmaz's effort was ruled out for offside. Cancelo atoned by curling home the equaliser before half-time, and Barcelona took complete control after the break with Lamine Yamal providing two assists in four minutes as Fermín López, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi completed the comeback.

Osimhen worked hard leading the line but was starved of service against a Barcelona side that extended their winning run across all competitions to ten matches. The positives for Nigeria: 90 minutes in the legs, no apparent setback, and the sharpness will come.

Nwachukwu's Cameo in Sabah History

There was a quieter Nigerian contribution in Baku, where Christian Nwachukwu came off the bench in the 73rd minute as Sabah claimed a historic 2-0 victory over Slavia Prague; the Azerbaijani club's first-ever Champions League win.

Kaheem Parris (49') and Joy-Lance Mickels (88') scored the goals that erased the memory of the 4-0 opening-day defeat to Manchester United. Nwachukwu, introduced for Du Queiroz, helped see out the result and chipped in defensively with two tackles won in his 17-minute cameo.

The Slavia Contingent: Four Nigerians in One Team

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Tuesday's most remarkable Nigerian storyline came from the losing side in Baku. Slavia Prague fielded four Nigerians against Sabah; a striking testament to the Czech club's pipeline from Nigeria.

Central midfielder David Moses and forward Emmanuel Ayaosi both started. Ayaosi, in red-hot domestic form, created four chances, among the most of any player on the pitch, before picking up a 67th-minute booking.

Teenage sensation Mubarak Suleiman continued his return from injury with a 62nd-minute cameo, while right wing-back Samuel Isife was introduced in the 73rd minute.

It was a frustrating night in terms of the result, but a significant one for Nigerian representation: five Nigerians featured across the two sides in Baku, with the Slavia quartet gaining valuable minutes at Europe's highest club level.

Tuesday's Nigerian Scorecard

What's Next

The league phase continues later this month, with Lookman looking to build on his growing influence in Madrid and Osimhen targeting his first goal since returning to full fitness. For the Super Eagles, the sight of two of their biggest attacking weapons featuring prominently in Europe's premier club competition is exactly what Éric Chelle wants to see with the November international window approaching.