Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has expressed joy after his team’s hard-fought 2:0 victory over Stuttgart in the UEFA Champions League.

The 27-year-old continued his blistering form by recording his eighth goal of the season, helping the UEFA Europa League champions move to ninth on the table in the new Champions League format.

The Nigeria forward broke the deadlock in the 51st minute courtesy of another assist from Charles De Ketelaere before Nicolo Zaniolo put the game to bed just two minutes before the end of the 90 minutes.

The win means Atalanta are now unbeaten in their last nine games, winning seven and drawing just two.

Speaking after the game, Lookman said they expected a tough game in Germany, adding that it was business as usual for his side.

“It was a nice evening for the team. We all put in a good performance together, and that against a strong opponent. It was a tough game against VfB Stuttgart, just as we expected,” the former RB Leipzig man told BILD correspondent Felix Arnold.

Lookman’s impressive showing in Germany comes as a huge boost for the forthcoming 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.

He had been tagged the favourite even before finishing as the 14th best player in the world at the recent Ballon d’Or Ceremony in Paris.

Lookman has been in scintillating form since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 for €9.35m plus bonuses, amassing 40 goals and providing 23 assists in 91 competitive appearances for the Italian side, and has been linked with a host of top European clubs.

Spanish giants Real Madrid are the latest club to be linked with the in-form Nigeria international, who, according to Transfermarkt, is valued at €60m, a fee the Champions League champions will have no problem paying.