Atletico Madrid Demolish Barcelona 4-0 in Copa del Rey Semifinal First Leg
Atletico Madrid delivered a stunning and commanding performance on Thursday, February 12, thrashing Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of the 2025/26 Copa del Rey semifinal. The match, held at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, saw the home side take a massive advantage heading into the second leg, largely thanks to the impactful display from Nigerian international Ademola Lookman.
Lookman's Impressive Contribution for Atletico Madrid
Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman was instrumental in Atletico Madrid's emphatic victory, scoring a goal and providing an assist. Since joining the Spanish capital club from Atalanta on February 2, Lookman has quickly adapted, netting his second goal in just three games for Los Rojiblancos. His performance has drawn praise from football fans globally, highlighting his significant impact at the club.
In the 33rd minute, Lookman showcased his clinical finishing. After Giuliano Simeone broke down the right flank and Julian Alvarez squared the ball, Lookman drilled a low, powerful shot beyond Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, extending Atletico's lead. Just before halftime, in the 45+2 minute, the Nigerian international turned provider, laying the ball back for Alvarez, who fired home his first goal in over two months.
Match Breakdown and Key Moments
The match started disastrously for Barcelona when, just seven minutes into the first half, an own goal by Joan Garcia gave Atletico Madrid the lead. The Barcelona goalkeeper failed to control a back pass, which trickled into the net. Atletico doubled their advantage in the 14th minute as Nahuel Molina slipped the ball through to Antoine Griezmann, who curled a composed finish past Garcia from inside the box.
Barcelona had a brief moment of hope in the 52nd minute when Pau Cubarsi found the net, assisted by Robert Lewandowski. However, after an eight-minute VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside, dashing any chance of a comeback. In the dying moments of the match, Atletico nearly added a fifth goal, but Alexander Sorloth fired wide from an open net after Molina's low cross.
Reactions and Background on Lookman's Transfer
Following the match, attention turned to Lookman's recent transfer from Atalanta. Atalanta President Luca Percassi had initially threatened not to sanction the move early in January but later commented on the departure. Percassi claimed that even though Atalanta signed Giacomo Raspadori, it was not a reason to let an important player like Lookman go, underscoring the winger's value.
This victory positions Atletico Madrid strongly for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, with Lookman's form being a key factor. As the Super Eagles star continues to impress in La Liga, his contributions could prove crucial in Atletico's pursuit of silverware this season.
