Ademola Lookman has been ruled out of Atalanta’s crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona due to a knee injury sustained in training, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday.

In a brief statement, Atalanta confirmed that the 27-year-old Nigerian forward suffered an injury to the lateral joint of his right knee and will not travel with the team to Spain. The Italians are set to face Barcelona on Wednesday, hoping to secure direct qualification for the Champions League Round of 16.

While the club did not disclose a timeline for Lookman’s recovery, reports from Italian media suggest he could be sidelined for up to a month. His absence is a significant blow to Atalanta, as the forward has been in remarkable form this season, netting 14 goals and providing six assists. Lookman’s impact was also evident last season when he scored a memorable hat-trick in the Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Atalanta, under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini, have become a force both domestically and in Europe in recent years. Currently, they are still in contention for the Serie A title and are performing well in the Champions League. The Bergamo-based team sits seventh in the 36-club league phase, but with several teams tightly packed around them, anything less than a victory against an already-qualified Barcelona could see Atalanta forced into a play-off spot.

Lookman’s absence will undoubtedly be felt as Atalanta prepares for one of their toughest challenges this season.