Nigerian Players to Watch in This Week's UEFA Champions League Matches

Ademola Lookman | Atalanta

Ever since his sensational hat-trick that earned Atalanta their first-ever Europa League title last season when they handed Bayer Leverkusen their first and only defeat of 2023-24, Ademola Lookman’s price tag has sky-rocketed and the Nigerian international is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 

Atalanta are having an incredible season to date, currently second in the Serie A, just one point off league leaders Napoli. Lookman has been central to the team’s success this term, scoring seven times in 10 league games, including the winner over the weekend against Parma which took the team to a seventh consecutive top-flight victory - the second-longest streak in the club’s history. 

The 27-year-old is also La Dea’s top-scorer in this season’s Champions League, having netted in each of the side’s wins in the competition so far against Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday two and their last outing against Stuttgart earlier this month. Atalanta are away to Young Boys on Tuesday night and Lookman will certainly feel that this is an opponent that he can target to increase his tally in Europe before the turn of the year. Lookman is currently priced at 2.20 to score anytime with Bet365 and you can check out our full Young Boys vs Atalanta prediction right here on SportyTrader!

Nathan Tella & Victor Boniface | Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen are comfortably sat in mid-table in the League Phase of the Champions League with seven points from their first four games, and they will be looking to push closer to the top eight automatic qualification spots when they play host to RB Salzburg at BayArena on Tuesday night. 

Nathan Tella had an excellent season for Xabi Alonso’s side in 2023-24 - his first year in the Bundesliga - netting five goals and four assists in the league while also contributing a goal and an assist to their Europa League campaign. The 25-year-old midfielder has yet to register his first goal this term but has featured in three of Die Werkself’s four Champions League matches this season, and should be in the mix to feature against the Red Bulls this week.

Victor Boniface’s rise to stardom over the last couple of years has been nothing short of remarkable. The Akure-born striker was the German Champions’ top scorer last season with 14 goals and nine assists in 23 top-flight matches and also netted five goals and an assist in eight Europa League games. The 23-year-old has been red-hot again this season, already on eight goals and an assist in 14 matches across all competitions, including scoring the winner against AC Milan on matchday two. Unfortunately, Boniface sustained an injury while on international duty this month with the Super Eagles and his participation against Salzburg is in doubt. 

Think Die Werkself can beat the Red Bulls this week? Check out the latest Champions League odds before placing your wager to get the best price available!

Victor Olatunji | Sparta Prague

Sparta Prague will face a stern test on Tuesday night when they play host to Spanish giant Atletico Madrid at the epet ARENA. The Czech First League champions are just one point off the playoff cutoff line and will be hoping to pull off an upset victory here following back-to-back defeats in the last two rounds. 

Iron Sparta are returning to the Champions League for the first time since 2005-06 having fought their way through the qualifiers, and much of their success in the competition has been attributable to the form of Victor Olatunji. The forward from Sokoto scored two goals during the team’s qualification campaign and is their leading scorer in the tournament proper as well, netting two of their four goals while also providing an assist.  

Olatunji scored Sparta’s only goal in the defeat to Brest in the last round and has already racked up four in 14 domestic league matches this season. The 25-year-old has featured in every match for his side this season and he will need to be at his absolute best to give the Czech outfit a chance of upsetting Rojiblancos this week. 

Remember, you can stay up to the moment with all the action from Sparta Prague vs Atletico Madrid via our free Champions League Livescore tool!

Honourable Mentions and Ones To Watch

George Ilenikhena and Monaco are enjoying an excellent season, currently in second place in Ligue 1, while they are third in the League Phase of the Champions League, and one of only six teams that are still unbeaten. The forward from Lagos came off the bench and scored the Monegasques’ winner against Barcelona over the opening week of the competition, and while he has been used exclusively as a substitute in the competition, he may have another big role to play this week. 

Samuel Chukwueze will travel with AC Milan to Slovakia this week to face Super Liga champions Slovan Bratislava. The 25-year-old attacker from Umahaia has made two substitute appearances in this season’s Champions League and picked up an assist in the side’s 3-1 victory over Club Brugge last month. Chukwueze has only played 41 minutes in the competition, but given their opponents here, he could be in line for his first start. 

Raphael Onyedika scored his first goal of the season over the weekend when his side demolished St. Truiden 7-0 in the Pro League. The 23-year-old Nigerian netted the Blue and Blacks’ fifth goal of the evening but he will not make the trip to Celtic Park this week, owing to a three-match suspension for the straight red he was shown against AC Milan back on matchday three. 

Ready to place your bets? Check out all our experts’ in-depth analysis and Champions League Predictions for matchday five to give you a little helping hand with structuring your wagers. 

Check out the latest Champions League predictions