Ademola Lookman for Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Imago)
Super Eagles stars Raphael Onyedika and Ademola Lookman both found the net for their respective clubs as Club Brugge played out an entertaining 3-3 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Soccernet.ng reports.
The two Nigerians faced off in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 playoff on Wednesday. Both players have been pivotal for their teams this season, and both retained their spots in the starting XIs for the crucial game.
While Los Colchoneros entered the match as favorites, Club Brugge proved to be a well-drilled side that could not be overlooked.
Atleti took an early lead when Julian Alvarez converted from the penalty spot following a handball by Joaquin Seys.
Despite falling behind, Club Brugge grew into the game and began carving out chances. Onyedika looked sharp from the opening whistle; although he spurned a clear opportunity in the 12th minute, he forced Jan Oblak into a sprawling save with a powerful long-range effort in the 30th minute.
However, just before halftime, Atletico Madrid doubled their advantage. After a clever flick from Antoine Griezmann, Lookman nudged the ball home to make it 2-0 before the break.
While Diego Simeone’s men appeared to be cruising toward victory, Club Brugge had other ideas.
They pulled one back in the 52nd minute through Onyedika, who reacted quickest to a goalmouth scramble following a corner. By the 60th minute, the Belgian giants had leveled the score thanks to a strike from Nicolo Tresoldi.
Following the capitulation, Simeone withdrew Lookman in favor of Alex Baena. Atleti managed to reclaim the lead in the 79th minute, but the Blauw-Zwart refused to back down.
In the 89th minute, Onyedika turned provider, setting up Christos Tzolis for a dramatic equalizer to ensure the spoils were shared by full-time.
We fought back!! All to play for next week! ⚫ pic.twitter.com/iPlw2KnbS1
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) February 18, 2026
Bruno Onyemaechi Suffers Champions League Defeat with Olympiacos
Elsewhere, Bruno Onyemaechi and Olympiacos suffered a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Super Eagles defender did not start the match, eventually being introduced in the 82nd minute. His impact was limited, however, as the Greek side was already two goals down by the time he entered the fray.
Olympiacos now face a daunting task. They must travel to the BayArena for the return leg next week, where only a commanding victory will be enough to keep their European dreams alive.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
