SUPER Eagles striker Victor Osimhen lasted only 45 minutes last night as his Galatasaray side were hammered 4-0 by Liverpool in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash at Anfield, while his international teammate Ademola Lookman progressed with Atletico Madrid to the quarter-finals.
While Galatasaray talisman Osimhen sustained an arm injury, Mohamed Salah took his Champions League tally to 50 with an exquisite curling effort as Liverpool overturned a first-leg deficit to win 4-1 on aggregate and set up a quarter-final against holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s precise drive levelled the tie in the 25th minute as the hosts swiftly asserted their dominance, although the impressive Uğurcan Çakır saved Salah’s penalty during first-half added time.
Salah bounced back to set up Hugo Ekitiké six minutes after the break and Ryan Gravenberch’s finish two minutes later preceded the forward’s landmark 62nd-minute goal, making the Egyptian international the first African to reach 50 goals in the competition.
In London, Lookman was in the starting line-up for Atletico Madrid as they twice came back to stifle Tottenham and reach the quarter-finals, despite eventually losing 3-2 in London.
The home side had the better of the first half and led at the break through Randal Kolo Muani’s header, only for Julián Alvarez’s 14th Champions League goal in 17 appearances to cancel it out after the restart.
Spurs offered a quick response through a curling Xavi Simons strike but Dávid Hancko’s header all but ended their hopes.
A Simons penalty in added time gave the hosts victory on the night, but Atleti progressed 7-5 on aggregate.
In Spain, Barcelona overcame Newcastle and reached the quarter-finals behind a dazzling second-half display and a 7-2 win at the Camp Nou.
A closely-contested first half finished with the hosts leading 3-2 – Lamine Yamal converting an added-time penalty after Anthony Elanga had replied to both Raphinha’s opener and then Marc Bernal’s close-range effort.
The visitors could not pull level for a third time, however, as Barça quickly set the tone for a roaring second half through Fermín López’s breakaway goal.
Robert Lewandowski added two more shortly after, the second brilliantly set up by Yamal, before Raphinha capped the victory by intercepting and finishing in the Newcastle box.
In Germany, Harry Kane’s double – the second his 50th Champions League goal – ensured Bayern claimed an emphatic 4-1 success on the night (10-2 on aggregate).
Kane opened the scoring from the spot following Giorgio Scalvini’s handball before bringing up his half-century in stunning fashion, powering into the top corner after a skilful turn.
Lennart Karl added a third when sweeping in a Luis Díaz pass, the 18-year-old later returning the favour for the Colombian international to finish with aplomb.
La Dea grabbed a late consolation, Lazar Samardžić nodding in from close range, but that did not detract from Bayern’s convincing display.
RESULTS
Liverpool 4-0 Galatasaray (agg: 4-1)
Tottenham 3-2 Atletico Madrid (agg: 5-7)
Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle (agg: 8-3)
Bayern Munich 4-1 Atalanta (agg: 10-2)
