Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was on target for Atletico Madrid in their quarterfinal second leg clash with Barcelona to lead the Madrid side into the last four of the UEFA Champions League (UCL), www.aclsports.com reports.
Having led 2-0 from the first leg, pressure was on Atleti to see out the tie at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Barcelona raced to a two-goal lead courtesy strikes from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres before Lookman’s strike before the break helped Atleti progress 3-2 on aggregate.
Barcelona made an electric start – Lamine Yamal weaving his magic to test Juan Musso within a minute – and had their reward in the fourth minute when their No. 10 rolled through Musso’s legs after winning the ball off Clément Lenglet and racing onto a Ferran Torres pass.
A big chance for Antoine Griezmann in the 22nd minute signalled greater balance in the contest, but three clinical Ferran Torres touches then brought the visitors level in the tie, the first two taking him away from Lenglet before the third found the top-right corner.
There would be another twist in the tale before half-time, though, Ademola Lookman converting Marcos Llorente’s low cross in the 31st minute to push Atleti back in front.
The second-half story was more straightforward, Atleti settling into a defensive block which Barcelona continuously probed but could not unlock. Eric García’s 80th-minute dismissal for a foul on Alexander Sørloth further dented hopes of a late surge, but Barcelona nonetheless came close through Ronald Araújo’s header late in stoppage time.
Lookman and Atleti will now take on the winner of the quarterfinal game between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon in the last four of this season’s Champions League.
