Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman stole the show as Atlético Madrid delivered a stunning 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Metropolitano Stadium on Thursday night.
The 27-year-old attacker not only scored but also set up a goal, helping Atlético secure their biggest win over Barcelona in 37 years, a feat last matched in 1989.
Barcelona’s early struggles began with an own goal from defender Eric García in the sixth minute, giving Atlético the lead. Antoine Griezmann doubled the advantage eight minutes later.
Lookman then made his mark in the 33rd minute, finishing with a first-time strike to make it 3-0. Before halftime, the former Atalanta star provided a perfectly timed assist for Julián Álvarez, completing a flawless first half for Diego Simeone’s side.
Lookman Credits Teammates and Fans
After the match, Lookman praised his teammates and expressed delight at opening his home account for Atlético.
“I’m very, very happy. Of course, scoring is good, but I think the team played really well tonight. In the box, we were very professional, and today we showed a great level of teamwork,” Lookman told Sporty TV.
“We got that energy from our fans tonight, they were amazing, so we are glad.”
He also shared insight into his attacking mindset:
“You always want to score as an attacker, always looking to get into dangerous positions, so I just try to be in the right place at the right time.”
Caution Ahead of Second Leg
Despite the emphatic victory, Lookman emphasized the need for focus ahead of the second leg on March 3 at Barcelona’s Camp Nou.
“Of course, it’s a big victory. But we have a few more games coming up before we play away, so we need to stay with the same mindset and focus on those matches, which will take us to the other semi-final. We are excited about the days to come,” he added.
Historic Night for Atlético Madrid
The 4-0 result marked Atlético’s third-ever four-goal win over Barcelona and the first since 1989, highlighting Simeone’s men’s dominance. Barcelona’s woes worsened when García was sent off in the 85th minute for a foul on Alex Baena, completing a miserable night for the defending champions.
Since joining Atlético Madrid in January from Atalanta, Lookman has made an immediate impact, scoring two goals and providing two assists in his first three appearances.
