The encounter was crucial for Real Madrid. The defending champions had just two wins from four games, with defeat in their last two UCL matches, and were in danger of further complicating their chance of qualifying for the knockout stage.
The visitors’ star trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham scored the goals as La Galacticos pulled their European season back on track, while Lookman was not out of place, delivering a brilliant finish that gave the Europa League winners hope.
The fixture was a repeat of the 2024 UEFA Super Cup, which Real Madrid won. The Spanish team retained that edge in the game’s first few minutes.
They struck first through Mbappe’s controlled finish in the 10th minute, but a penalty by Charles De Ketelaere restored parity on the stroke of halftime to ensure both sides went into the interval level.
The perennial European champions were inspired after the restart. Vinicius Jr. delivered a first-time finish to put Madrid ahead in the 56th minute before Bellingham’s hard, low shot bulged the net three minutes later for 3-1.
Lookman then produced a brilliant finish in the 72nd minute. He controlled a long ball on the left edge of the penalty area to create a yard of space before sneaking a low shot into the near post before Thibaut Courtois could react.
Lookman’s goal is his third in five UCL matches, and the 28-year-old has also notched up 16 goal contributions so far this season.
Victory for Real Madrid moves the 15-time UCL champions up to 18th on the log with nine points from six matches, while Atalanta are ninth with 11 points.
Earlier, Liverpool continued their perfect UCL preliminary stage record with a 1-0 win at Girona, Mohamed Salah’s goal confirming the Reds’ qualification into the knockout stage.
Paris Saint-Germain also recorded a much-needed 3-0 win at RB Salzburg to keep qualification hopes alive, while Bayern Munich thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1.
Raphael Onyedika, Super Eagles of Nigeria midfielder, played all 90 minutes as his Club Brugge side secured all three points in a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon to tighten their grip on a knockout phase play-off spot.
RESULTS
Girona 0-1 Liverpool
RB Salzburg 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-5 Bayern Munich
Club Brugge 2-1 Sporting Lisbon
Brest 1-0 PSV Eindhoven
RB Salzburg 2-3 Aston Villa
Dinamo Zagreb 0-0 Celtic
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Inter Milan
Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid