Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman played a key role as Atletico Madrid secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Despite a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in London, Atletico progressed 7-5 on aggregate after their 5-2 first-leg victory in Madrid.
Lookman started in manager Diego Simeone's 4-4-2 system, operating on the left of midfield alongside Marcos Llorente, Johnny Cardoso, and Giuliano Simeone.
Tottenham, needing at least three goals to force extra time, pressed from the first whistle. Lookman spent much of the game tracking back, but still made an impact with a well-timed assist.
Tottenham 3-2 Atletico Madrid: Full match report
Tottenham, coming off a 1-1 draw at Liverpool, began strongly. Atletico nearly struck first in the 6th minute when a counter-attack ended with Lookman finding the net, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Spurs controlled most of the first half, with Randal Kolo Muani heading home from a Mathys Tel cross in the 30th minute. Guglielmo Vicario also made a crucial save to deny Giuliano Simeone.
The game shifted after the break. Two minutes into the second half, Lookman set up Julian Álvarez for a stunning equaliser. Tottenham responded in the 52nd minute when Archie Gray fed Xavi Simons, who curled a 25-yard strike into the bottom corner.
The match grew physical, with yellow cards shown to Lookman, Porro, Vicario, Romero, and Udogie. David Hancko restored parity for Atletico in the 75th minute with a header, effectively ending Spurs’ hopes.
Deep into stoppage time, Simons converted a penalty after a foul by Jose Maria Gimenez, giving Tottenham a 3-2 win on the night—but Atletico advanced.
How Ademola Lookman Performed Against Tottenham: Stats and Analysis
This was not the most glamorous night for Lookman, but it was effective. Simeone asked him to operate in a deeper role than usual, and the Nigerian international spent large stretches of the first half tracking back against Pedro Porro and Djed Spence.
Radu Drăgușin did a decent job containing Lookman early on, and Cristian Romero made at least one block that prevented the Atletico winger from tapping into an empty net at the back post.
The former Atalanta forward caused problems whenever he advanced. His early goal—caught off for offside in the 6th minute—showed the kind of threat he carries on the counter.
He then missed a close-range opportunity around the 32nd minute that could have levelled the game before half-time.
The defining contribution came right after the break. Lookman set up Alvarez for the equalizer with a precise pass from outside the box, and the finish from the Argentine was world-class.
According to his match stats on SofaScore, Lookman finished his shift with one assist, 88% pass accuracy, 37 touches, and three defensive contributions. He lost the ball just six times and won three fouls for his team.
The quarter-finals are looking tasty #UCL pic.twitter.com/ACLRR7wccv
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 18, 2026
Overall, Lookman did exactly what Simeone needed from him, and Atletico are in the last eight owing to his contributions.
