Ademola Lookman Delights on Atlético Madrid Debut After Goal and Assist in Copa del Rey Rout

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman has expressed his delight after making a dream debut for Atlético Madrid, starring with a goal and an assist in a dominant 5-0 victory over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Thursday night.

The Super Eagles forward, who joined Diego Simeone’s side during the January transfer window, was handed a starting berth for the trip to the Estadio Benito Villamarín and wasted no time in justifying the manager’s faith. Lookman looked instantly at home in Spanish football, tormenting the Betis backline with his pace, movement, and sharp decision-making.

Atlético were already in control when Lookman struck his first goal for the club, finishing clinically after meeting a well-weighted cross from Pablo Barrios to make it 3-0. He then turned provider in the 62nd minute, setting up Antoine Griezmann for Atlético’s fourth goal of the evening, further underlining his influence on the match.

Speaking after the game, Lookman reflected on a debut he described as both memorable and encouraging.

“Very proud, very happy for my debut, especially for the performance of the team,” he said. “The team, everyone in the dressing room welcomed me in a very affectionate way. They made it easy for me. That’s why I’m very happy.”

The former Atalanta forward also stressed his desire to keep improving as he settles into life in Spain.

“I’ll try to be regular in the season. Everyone works hard. There are things that can be improved, but my intention is to continue working to improve, which is the important thing,” he added.

Lookman was later withdrawn for Obed Vargas as Simeone rotated his squad, and Atlético rounded off a commanding night with a fifth goal from Thiago Almada to seal their place in the semi-finals.

The Nigerian’s explosive debut has already sparked excitement among Atlético supporters, with his direct style, creativity, and versatility offering Simeone a new attacking dimension as the club pushes for silverware in the latter stages of the season.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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