UCL: What Ademola Lookman said after Atletico Madrid knocked out Barcelona

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has applauded the performance of Atletico Madrid after they edged Barcelona to advance to the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 28-year-old scored the decisive goal of the clash, as Atletico advanced 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg clash at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday night.

Barcelona had taken control of the tie after scoring through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, who had put them 2-0 up in the tie on the night and level on aggregate. However, Lookman restored Atlético’s advantage in the 31st minute, finishing off a rapid counterattack set up by Marcos Llorente.

The visitors thought they had scored again in the second half, but the Video Assistant Referee ruled out the effort. Things got worse for Barcelona when Eric García was sent off for a last-man foul on Alexander Sorloth in the 79th minute, allowing Atlético to hold on.

Ademola Lookman reacts as Atletico Madrid reach Champions League semifinal

Ademola Lookman was in action for 66 minutes before coming off for Nico Gonzalez in the second half, as Diego Simeone reshuffled his midfield to protect the result for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona.

However, his goal ultimately proved decisive, sending Atletico Madrid through to their first UEFA Champions League semifinal in nine years.

Speaking to UEFA.com after the match, Lookman said he was delighted to be part of such a big occasion and praised his teammates for their strong collective performance.

“It’s amazing. I have to really say amazing amazing”, Lookman said.

“Nights like this the atmosphere, the pressure, I think the occasion is great to be involved in for sure. I think pressure is what comes with, being at this stage in this competition and coming up against this type of teams who are amazing in the way they play and also play this type of football.

“Yeah it’s great, obviously the tempo in terms of the way the ball moves like you said and obviously playing your game and trying to enforce it on the game. Being with your teammates and fighting because moments like today were difficult but we stuck together and we got the result that we wanted in the end”, the Nigerian forward concluded.

Atletico Madrid will now face the winner of the tie between Arsenal and Sporting CP, with the English side currently ahead by a goal ahead of their second leg clash on Wednesday night.

It will also mark Lookman’s first-ever appearance at this stage of the competition, after falling short in the quarter-finals during the 2019-20 season with Atalanta.