PAMPLONA, Spain – Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman is settling into Atletico Madrid life like he was born for it. The Nigerian forward calmly slotted home a first-half penalty to spark a gritty 2-1 victory over Osasuna on Wednesday, keeping Diego Simeone’s side firmly in the Champions League chase.
Lookman, who made a €35 million switch from Atalanta in February, notched his 11th goal of the 2025/26 season across all competitions. His strike in the 15th minute, awarded after a marathon VAR check confirmed Javi Galan’s handball, sent the keeper the wrong way into the bottom-left corner. Rocking Atletico’s No. 22 blue away kit, the 28-year-old celebrated with his signature cool, cementing his status as a Metropolitano favourite.
Alexander Sørloth made it 2-0 in the 71st minute, rising to power home a Marcos Llorente cross. But drama unfolded moments later when Llorente saw red, leaving Atletico to defend with ten men. Osasuna rallied, with Kike Barja pulling one back in stoppage time, but Simeone’s troops held firm for the three points.
The win boosts Atletico to 66 points in fourth place, six clear of Real Betis with two games left. It comes amid a tough campaign marked by injuries eight first-teamers were out here and a European semi-final exit.
Lookman has been a revelation,” one report raved, praising his goals and creativity in Simeone’s attack. For Osasuna, it was a spirited but fruitless effort against top-four hunters.
Match Stats
Osasuna 1-2 Atletico Madrid
- Goals: Lookman (15′ pen), Sørloth (71′); Barja (90+’)
- Red card: Llorente (Atletico, 72′)
With the La Liga run-in heating up, Lookman’s clinical edge could be Atletico’s ticket back to Europe’s elite.
