Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has explained why Udinese’s Serie A clash with Atalanta at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo carried special significance for him.

Udinese surrendered a two-goal advantage to settle for a draw against Atalanta as strikes from Thomas Kristensen and Keinan Davis were cancelled out by a brace of headers from Gianluca Scamacca.

Okoye produced a superb late save to preserve a point for Udinese, stretching at full length to deny Nikola Krstović seven minutes from time after the forward unleashed a powerful effort from just outside the penalty area. 

This season, Atalanta have already faced German opposition in the UEFA Champions League, coming up against Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund and recording two wins and one defeat.

Next up, the Bergamo side will do battle with Bayern Munich on Tuesday in what promises to be a mouthwatering round-of-16 encounter.

Okoye revealed that facing a side that had recently played Borussia Dortmund and is set to meet Bayern Munich made the encounter feel unique.

Before kickoff, Okoye spoke to DAZN pitchside, saying: "A different defense than usual? It doesn't change much for me. We always work together and in the same way.

"Atalanta played against Dortmund and will play against Bayern, so for me, being a German, it's special. I'm happy to face them and I want to enjoy this match."

Düsseldorf-born Okoye is no longer eligible to represent his country of birth Germany at international level following a cap-tying appearance for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier versus Sierra Leone in November 2020.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel