ATALANTA VS MADRID: MAN IN ARENA!

• Will big game player Lookman shine against Los Blancos in Bergamo?

Like Theodore Roosevelt’s man in the arena “whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,” Ademola Lookman has consistently proven himself as Atalanta’s clutch performer, rising to the occasion in crucial moments.

 As the Serie A leaders prepare to host reigning European champions Real Madrid on Tuesday (today), all eyes will be on the Nigerian forward to deliver another master class.

 The 26-year-old enters the blockbuster Champions League clash in scintillating form, having scored eight goals and provided four assists in 12 Serie A appearances this season, while adding two goals and an assist in four Champions League outings.

 Lookman’s latest heroics came just last Friday when he scored a dramatic 87th-minute winner against AC Milan to extend Atalanta’s winning streak to nine consecutive matches.

 After being frustrated by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who had produced excellent saves to deny him in both the 79th and 86th minutes, the Nigerian striker finally broke through with a perfectly-timed leap to power home a header that secured a crucial 2-1 victory, keeping La Dea at the Serie A summit with 34 points from 15 matches.

 His big-game credentials are impeccable. In November, he stunned then-leaders Napoli with an early brace in a statement victory that eventually saw Atalanta usurp the defending champions.

 His first goal showcased his predatory instincts, as he capitalised on Matias Olivera’s poor clearance to connect with Charles De Ketelaere’s flick-on, volleying home from an acute angle at the back post.

 The second was even more spectacular – receiving De Ketelaere’s cross-field pass, Lookman cut inside Giovanni Di Lorenzo before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot curler that left goalkeeper Alex Meret clutching at thin air.

 In September, he orchestrated a remarkable comeback against Fiorentina, contributing to all three goals in a thrilling 3-2 triumph.

 First, he displayed exceptional skill to skip past Edoardo Bove on the left wing before delivering a precise cross for Mateo Retegui’s equalising header.

 Then, with his team trailing 2-1 and time running out, Lookman took matters into his own hands. Just 60 seconds after De Ketelaere had levelled the scores; the Nigerian seized possession on the left, cut inside with purpose, and threaded a precise finish through a maze of defenders into the bottom corner to complete an extraordinary turnaround.

 However, his finest hour came in May’s Europa League final, where he produced one of the greatest individual performances in the competition’s history.

 His hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen began with a master class in movement, as he ghosted unmarked into the box to meet a flowing move involving Teun Koopmeiners and Davide Zappacosta with an emphatic first-time finish.

 His second goal showcased his technical brilliance, receiving the ball outside the box; he embarrassed former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka with a sublime nutmeg before unleashing an unstoppable long-range strike.

 He completed his historic treble with a display of raw power and precision, racing onto Gianluca Scamacca’s pass before hammering an angled drive into the net from the left side of the area.

 That performance, which dramatically ended Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten run, earned him widespread acclaim, including from Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, who confessed after their Super Cup clash, “Ademola Lookman, who I’m a big fan of, is really good at one-on-ones. We had to prepare specifically for him.”

 The Nigeria international will be eager to prove himself against Los Blancos after August’s UEFA Super Cup disappointment, where despite his threat; Atalanta fell to a 2-0 defeat against the Spanish giants.

 “These are the games you dream about as a child,” Lookman said before that clash.

 “We don’t need great motivation. We will face the greatest team in the world, and it’s an appointment with history.”

 The stakes are particularly high for this encounter. Atalanta, currently fifth in their Champions League group with 11 points, have been formidable on their travels but are yet to score at home in the competition, drawing 0-0 with both Arsenal and Celtic.

 Meanwhile, Madrid have endured a difficult European campaign, collecting just six points from five matches and suffering three defeats, including their last two against AC Milan and Liverpool.

 With Carlo Ancelotti’s side desperate to avoid missing the knockout stages for the first time in 28 campaigns, and having won their last eight away matches against Italian opposition, the stage is set for another memorable European night in Bergamo.

 Since joining Atalanta for €9.35m from RB Leipzig in 2022, Lookman has been a revelation, amassing 42 goals and 23 assists in 95 appearances. His performances have attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain, with Atalanta reportedly willing to negotiate a €40m fee for their prized asset.

 Like Roosevelt’s speech of a warrior who “strives valiantly” and “knows great enthusiasm,” Lookman has consistently shown he belongs in the arena with football’s elite. Tuesday presents another opportunity to prove it against the kings of European football.

 The question now is: Will he rise to the occasion once more and add Real Madrid to his list of big-game conquests?