Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman will miss Atalanta’s crucial Champions League match against Barcelona on Wednesday due to a knee injury.
The 27-year-old suffered a lateral joint injury in his right knee during training, and the Serie A club has confirmed that he will not travel to Spain for the match.
A lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury is usually caused by pressure or an injury that pushes the knee joint from the inside, which results in stress on the outside part of the joint.
The symptoms of a tear in the lateral collateral ligament can include: Knee swelling. Locking or catching of your knee with movement.
Lookman’s absence will be a significant blow to Atalanta, as he has been in impressive form this season, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists.
He also made headlines last season with a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Atalanta is still in contention for the Serie A title and is riding high in the Champions League, but they face a tough test against already-qualified Barcelona.
The Bergamo-based outfit currently sits seventh in the 36-club league phase of the Champions League, with several teams within a point of them.
Anything less than a win against Barcelona could mean a play-off spot, adding to the pressure on Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
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