Ademola Lookman is bracing up for another “tough” challenge when Atalanta host Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, Afrosport reports.
La Dea have have a great run so far, going unbeaten after five games (W3, D2) which sees them occupy fifth spot in the standings which is an automatic qualification spot into the round of 16.
They have achieved this facing the likes of Arsenal and Stuttgart and Lookman knows it will be another difficult run against the current Champions League holders.
“[It is] another tough game for us against a top side team that’s very, very strong, but, you know, we’re focused on us, focus on how we can affect the game, how we can be dangerous for them and, you know, impose ourselves on the game. So, it’s another challenge for us,” the Europa League champion and hat-trick hero said.
Meanwhile, Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini does not believe his side are favourites going into this game as Real Madrid are further down the standings in 24th and in danger of getting eliminated.
“I don’t think any team when facing Real Madrid can be considered as favorite,” the Italian said. “When you play a match, it is not very important who is favorite or not. We know we are playing a very important match in the Champions League for our place in the standings, like for them.
“We are playing at Bergamo, at our stadium, that is finally finished. It is a great match, and it is a fantastic fixture for the people of Bergamo because they are playing against the team with the most titles in the world in their stadium and with so much at stake in the standings.”
#UCL | S4 ep6: Visite regali – A royal visit 👑⚪#AtalantaRealMadrid #GoAtalantaGo ⚫🔵 pic.twitter.com/t8F0vM9GQB
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) December 10, 2024
Real Madrid and Atalanta faced off in the UEFA Super Cup back in August with Los Blancos triumphing 2-0 in Warsaw.
