Ademola Lookman announced his arrival in Spanish football in emphatic fashion, marking his debut for Atlético de Madrid with a goal in their stunning 5-0 victory over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Thursday night.
The Nigerian international was handed his first start by Diego Simeone and wasted no time in justifying the manager’s faith, delivering a confident and composed performance that underlined his growing reputation as one of Africa’s most exciting forwards.
Atlético took early control of the contest, opening the scoring through Dávid Hancko in the 12th minute before Giuliano doubled the lead on the half-hour mark. With Betis struggling to cope with Atlético’s intensity, Lookman made his mark in the 37th minute, calmly finishing after a well-weighted pass from Pablo Barrios to put his new side firmly in command.
The goal sparked celebrations among the travelling supporters, who warmly welcomed their new signing, and highlighted Lookman’s instinctive movement and clinical edge inside the box.
Atlético continued their dominance after the break, with Antoine Griezmann adding a fourth in the 62nd minute before Thiago Almada sealed the rout late on. The comprehensive win secured Simeone’s men a place in the semi-finals and sent a strong message to their domestic rivals.
Lookman’s debut goal adds to his impressive recent form and strengthens his claim for a central role at the club as the season progresses. With Atlético competing on multiple fronts but with their best bet on the Copa del Ray trophy, his pace, creativity, and finishing ability could prove vital in the months ahead.
As Atlético march into the latter stages of the Copa del Rey, all eyes will now be on Lookman to see if he can build on this promising start and become a key figure in Simeone’s pursuit of silverware.