Ademola Lookman reflected on a hard-fought victory as Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday night. The result marked Diego Simeone’s first triumph at Barcelona’s iconic home since taking charge of the Spanish capital club.
Lookman, who played for 60 minutes before being replaced by Alexander Sørloth, praised the team’s defensive resilience and collective effort. “It was a good result, the performance of the team, particularly not conceding here. It demonstrates the effort everyone has been putting in and the unity we share,” he told TNT Sports.
The match turned decisively just before halftime when Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí was sent off, leaving the hosts with ten men. Atletico immediately capitalized, with Julián Alvarez converting a free-kick to break the deadlock. Sørloth added a second goal in the second half, sealing the victory for Los Rojiblancos.
“Lookman highlighted the importance of those pivotal moments. “Scoring after they had a man sent off was key as well. Brilliant free-kick from Julián and also the timing of Alex’s goal in the second half was also good,” he said.
The Nigeria international acknowledged the challenge posed by Barcelona, describing them as a top team capable of creating dangerous situations. “They are a top team, of course, in the situations they create. Difficult moments, but we persevered together,” Lookman added.
With the second leg to come, Lookman emphasized the need for calm and focus. “It’s going to be a massive challenge, a significant game. We understand that. Calm heads, for sure. We’ll approach each game as it comes.”
The victory extends Atletico’s impressive form in European competition and sets them up favorably for the return fixture. For Lookman, the result is another milestone in a season that has already brought significant achievements. “It has been nice, it has been great actually, long may it continue,” he concluded.
