Ademola Lookman delivered a decisive performance as Atlético Madrid secured a dramatic victory over FC Barcelona to book a place in the UCL semi-finals for the first time in nine years.
Barcelona started brightly and took the lead as early as the 4th minute through Lamine Yamal.
A sloppy passage of play from Atlético in midfield allowed Ferran Torres to win possession and quickly thread a precise through ball to Yamal, who controlled well before finishing calmly under pressure.
The early strike brought the aggregate score to 2–1.
Barcelona doubled their tally on the night in the 24th minute through Torres.
Dani Olmo slipped a clever pass into the forward’s path, allowing Torres to break free from Clément Lenglet and slot past Juan Musso, leveling the aggregate score at 2–2.
The defining moment came in the 31st minute when Lookman struck what proved to be the winner.
Atlético capitalized on a swift counterattack, with Marcos Llorente driving forward before finding Lookman on the left flank.
The Nigerian international showed composure and precision, cutting inside and sweeping the ball past Joan García to make it 3–2 on aggregate.
Tensions rose late in the game, and Barcelona were reduced to ten men in the 79th minute when Eric García was shown a red card for bringing down Alexander Sørloth, this made matters worse for Barca.
Also read: No Better Candidate than Gusau for NFF President – Elegbeleye
Lookman overall performance was exceptional beyond his match-winning goal.
He completed 93 percent of his passes, created two chances, and contributed defensively with a tackle, a clearance, and a ball recovery, while also winning five duels.
Atlético Madrid will now face the winner of the tie between Arsenal FC and Sporting CP in the semi-finals.
The post Lookman Fires Atlético Madrid into Champions League Semi-Finals appeared first on Latest Sports News In Nigeria.