Atletico Madrid’s Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has acknowledged the scale of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, describing the showpiece occasion as a “tough, tough game” while insisting his side possess a genuine opportunity to claim silverware.
The final takes place at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville, where Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid will look to lift the Copa del Rey for the first time since the 2012/13 season. That triumph came against city rivals Real Madrid, with Atletico winning 2-1 after extra time in a memorable encounter.
“It will be a tough, tough game (Copa del Rey final), but we have a chance to win a very important trophy for the club,” Lookman said ahead of Saturday’s match.
Should Atletico prevail, Lookman would become only the second Nigerian player in history to win the Copa del Rey. The first was Emmanuel Amunike, who was part of the Barcelona squad that defeated Real Betis 3-2 after extra time in the 1996-97 final — a victory that came nearly three decades ago.
Lookman, formerly of Everton and Atalanta, has settled quickly since joining Atletico and is expected to feature in attack alongside Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez. Despite Atletico’s strong historical record against Saturday’s opponents — Simeone’s side are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Real Sociedad — Lookman has been careful not to underestimate the Basque club.
Atletico arrive at the final in particularly strong form. Earlier in the week, they secured a UEFA Champions League semi-final berth following an impressive victory over Barcelona, adding further momentum to a squad already competing on multiple fronts. The club’s ability to sustain performances across both domestic and European competitions underlines the depth and organisation Simeone has built.
Real Sociedad, meanwhile, will be eager to claim their own piece of history. The San Sebastián-based club last won the Copa del Rey in 1987, and a victory on Saturday would represent their first triumph in the competition in nearly four decades.
For Lookman personally, the final represents one of the biggest individual milestones of his career. Having previously won the UEFA Europa League with Atalanta in the 2023-24 season — where he scored a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen — the 27-year-old has demonstrated an ability to perform on the grandest stages. Replicating that impact in Seville would cement his standing among the most decorated Nigerian footballers of his generation.
Kick-off at the Estadio de la Cartuja is scheduled for Saturday evening.
