Ademola Lookman made his return to action for Atlético Madrid as they claimed an impressive 2-0 win over FC Barcelona in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash at Camp Nou, Naija Street Matters reports.
The visitors took control of the tie with goals from Julián Alvarez just before halftime and a second-half strike from substitute Alexander Sørloth in the 70th minute. The result gives Diego Simeone’s side a strong advantage heading into the return leg, marking a rare victory for Atlético at the Catalan stadium.
Lookman, who missed the previous league meeting between both teams, was included in the starting lineup and immediately showed flashes of intent in the opening minutes.
His first notable action came in the seventh minute when he fired a right-footed shot from the left side of the box after being set up by Alvarez, but the effort was blocked. He remained active throughout the first half, contributing both offensively and defensively, although he was penalized for a handball midway through the half.
The match started at a high tempo, with both sides creating early chances. Barcelona enjoyed more possession in the early stages, but Atlético stayed disciplined, sitting deep and looking to exploit gaps left by the hosts’ high defensive line.
The game shifted dramatically just before halftime when Barcelona were reduced to 10 men after Pau Cubarsí was sent off for a last-man foul. From the resulting set-piece, Alvarez calmly found the back of the net to give Atlético the lead and stun the home crowd.
Despite being a man down, Barcelona pushed hard in the second half. Marcus Rashford came close to equalising and even struck the crossbar from a free-kick, while Dani Olmo also threatened. However, Atlético’s solid defence kept them at bay.
Lookman was substituted after 60 minutes, making way for Sørloth—a decision that paid off. The Norwegian forward later doubled the lead with a well-taken goal following a quick counter-attack, putting Atlético firmly in control of the tie.
During his time on the pitch, Lookman registered one shot and one key pass, completing 13 out of 14 passes with an impressive 93 percent accuracy. He also completed two successful dribbles and made two defensive recoveries, showing his overall impact despite not being directly involved in a goal.
The victory ended Barcelona’s 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions and marked Atlético Madrid’s first win at Camp Nou since 2006, giving them a significant edge ahead of the second leg.
