Champions League: Top 5 UCL fixtures featuring Nigerians - Osimhen, Lookman lead Super Eagles charge

Round four of the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League league phase is set to deliver high drama on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a clutch of Nigerian and Super Eagles players taking centre stage.

The race for qualification to the knockout stages is heating up, and the performances of stars like Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) and Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) will be crucial to their clubs' European aspirations.

Nigerian players are central to some of the week's most compelling matchups, with several fighting to help their teams up the congested league table.

The spotlight is firmly on Super Eagles main man, Victor Osimhen, who has made a blistering start to his Champions League campaign for Galatasaray.

The 26-year-old striker has already bagged 3 goals in just 2 UCL appearances this season, according to UEFA stats, averaging a goal every 48 minutes.

The Turkish side, currently 14th on the league table with 6 points, are aiming to consolidate their position when they visit Ajax.

Osimhen's goal-scoring form, which includes a brace in his last UCL outing, will be the key factor in a tough away fixture.

One of the must-watch games features Africa’s Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman's Atalanta visiting French side Marseille.

Lookman, who recently scored his first Serie A goal of the 2025/26 season, has played 2 UCL matches so far this term but is yet to find the net in the competition.

However, his overall European track record is strong, having contributed 5 goals and 2 assists in the UCL last season.

His return to the starting lineup, after a shocking bench spell domestically, will be vital for La Dea as they fight for points. Also, keep an eye on one of Nigeria’s most valuable players, young Atalanta defender, Honest Ahanor.

Defensive midfielder Raphael Onyedika's Club Brugge face a formidable challenge at home against Spanish giants Barcelona.

Brugge is currently 20th and three points behind their opponents, meaning an upset is necessary to boost their hopes.

Onyedika, hoping for a starting berth after playing just 27 minutes in his last domestic match, will be tasked with anchoring the midfield against a dynamic Barcelona attack featuring young stars like Lamine Yamal and in-form Marcus Rashford.

The Czech side will rely on little-known Nigerian midfielder David Moses as they host Premier League leaders Arsenal.

While Super Eagles centre-back Igoh Ogbu is reportedly ruled out due to injury, the 21-year-old Moses is expected to feature.

Prague faces a monumental task against an Arsenal side that has been in imperious form, having won all their UCL games so far and conceded zero goals.

Nigerian left-back Bruno Onyemaechi will seek a redemption performance for his Greek side, Olympiacos, when they host Dutch powerhouse PSV.

Olympiacos sit at 33rd on the table with just 1 point and have conceded 8 goals in their three games.

Onyemaechi, who trended after the last outing against Barcelona, will need to be defensively solid to ensure his side can take advantage of the home fixture and rekindle their fading hope for a spot in the knockout round.

The new UCL league phase format means every point is critical, especially for teams like Galatasaray (6 points) and Olympiacos (1 point) who are desperately chasing a top-eight slot or, at the very least, a playoff spot.

Osimhen's impressive 3-goal tally in the competition positions him as one of the continent's most in-form strikers, while the presence of emerging talents like Moses and Onyemaechi spotlights Nigeria's growing depth of talent across Europe's elite clubs.

Success this week will have a profound impact. A win for Galatasaray could move them into the top eight, easing the pressure on Osimhen and his teammates.

Similarly, a strong performance from Lookman could solidify his starting role at Atalanta. For the Nigerian national team, strong European showings by their key players ensure the Super Eagles remain a formidable force on the continent, especially with World Cup Playoffs within sight.

The fourth round of the Champions League is a crucial juncture, and Nigerian stars are poised to be difference-makers across Europe. With goals expected from Osimhen and game-changing plays hoped for from Lookman and others, this midweek promises fireworks.