Fresh off a historic debut for Atletico Madrid, Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has sent a clear warning to Real Betis ahead of their La Liga rematch at the Estadio Metropolitano on Sunday.
The 28-year-old was the standout performer in Thursday’s emphatic 5-0 Copa del Rey victory over the Andalusian side, scoring once and providing an assist.
In doing so, Lookman became the first Nigerian player to feature and score for Atletico Madrid, marking a dream start to life under Diego Simeone.
With both teams set to meet again just four days later, Lookman has made it clear that his approach will remain the same.
“Obviously try to do the same things because we created a lot of chances
“We were dangerous today, so I’ll try to hurt them in their moments.”
Beyond his goal contribution, Lookman was equally impressed by Atletico’s tactical discipline, particularly their intensity without the ball.
The winger praised the team’s defensive solidity and quick transitions, a hallmark of Simeone’s system that he has already adapted to seamlessly.
“Stay strong, keep on without the ball. I think it was very good today. We won the ball back many times and broke on them. In the key moments, we stayed solid,” he added.
Lookman’s debut performance was underlined by eye-catching statistics that highlighted his immediate impact in Spanish football.
He recorded five shots the most in the match along with nine touches in the opposition box, seven duels won, three successful dribbles, and an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.31.
While Thursday’s dominant win secured Atletico Madrid a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, Sunday’s league encounter carries even greater significance.
Simeone’s side currently sit third in La Liga and are eager to close the 10-point gap separating them from leaders Barcelona as the title race intensifies.
Notably, Lookman has now scored on his debut for three consecutive clubs RB Leipzig, Atalanta, and Atletico Madrid further reinforcing his reputation as a player who makes an instant impact.
As Atletico prepare for another showdown with Real Betis, all eyes will once again be on Lookman, a forward who has already shown he needs no adaptation period to shine on the biggest stage.
