Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman delivered a subdued display as Atalanta suffered a 1-0 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in their final UEFA Champions League league phase match, a result that still saw the Italian side progress to the play offs.
Despite the loss, Atalanta finished 15th in the standings with 13 points from eight matches, enough to secure qualification and finish two points above Borussia Dortmund, who slipped to 17th after losing to Inter Milan. Union Saint-Gilloise, on the other hand, exited the competition in 27th place on goal difference, level on nine points with Bodo Glimt and Benfica, who both advanced.
The Belgian side started with urgency and looked more dangerous in the opening stages. Raul Florucz caused early problems and nearly capitalised on a defensive mistake in the third minute when Isak Hien played a weak back pass. Florucz rounded goalkeeper Marco Sportiello but Hien recovered to clear the ball off the line and avoid an early setback.
Atalanta gradually settled into the game but struggled to create clear chances. Another error from Hien in the final third allowed Guilherme Smith a shooting opportunity, but his curling effort drifted narrowly wide. Lazar Samardzic later went on a strong run through midfield but delayed his shot and was blocked on the edge of the area.
Ademola Lookman had Atalanta’s best effort of the first half when he drilled a low shot through a defender’s legs from outside the box, forcing a sharp save at the near post. That proved to be his most significant contribution before being substituted later in the game.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 70th minute when Union took the lead. Ait El Hadj floated a free kick to the back post where Anan Khalaili met it with a controlled volley that beat Sportiello, who could have done better to keep the effort out.
Atalanta pushed for an equaliser late on and came agonisingly close in stoppage time. Charles De Ketelaere rolled the ball across the face of goal from the right, but Kamaldeen Sulemana, completely unmarked at the back post, scuffed his finish wide from six yards to let Union off the hook.
Ademola Lookman played 51 minutes before being replaced by Sulemana and ended the match with one shot on target, completed 14 of 21 passes, recorded 32 touches, won both of his aerial duels and lost possession 13 times.
The defeat ended Atalanta’s league phase campaign on a disappointing note, but their points tally was enough to secure a place in the Champions League play offs, while Union Saint-Gilloise bowed out despite a spirited performance.
