Ademola Lookman has singled out Antoine Griezmann for special praise following Atlético Madrid’s hard-fought passage into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, crediting the Frenchman’s technical quality as the foundation of the decisive goal in their quarter-final tie against Barcelona.
Atlético entered the second leg at home holding a 2-0 advantage from the first fixture. Although Barcelona pulled one back to lead 2-1 on the night, Lookman’s goal was sufficient to seal a 3-2 aggregate scoreline in favour of the Spanish capital club, ending any hopes of a Catalan comeback.
Speaking in an interview with ESPN, the Nigerian forward broke down exactly how the winning move developed, reserving particular admiration for Griezmann’s role in the build-up. “The pass to Grizi makes the play, and of course, his touch was amazing. It opens space for Marcos to run into. Then it’s just for me to sprint as fast as I can to get on the end of the cross, which I did, and thankfully I scored. I’m really happy,” Lookman said.
The goal was not merely a match-winning contribution — it completed Atlético’s first appearance in the Champions League semi-finals in nine years. Their reward is a two-legged tie against Arsenal, a fixture that has already drawn considerable attention given the contrasting trajectories of both clubs this season.
Lookman joined Atlético Madrid from Atalanta in the January transfer window for a reported fee of €35 million, and has wasted little time in establishing himself as a key figure in Diego Simeone’s squad. Since his arrival, the forward has been directly involved in nine goals and assists for the club across all competitions.
His impact has been particularly pronounced in the Copa del Rey, where he has registered two goals and two assists in just three appearances to help guide Atlético to the final. That final, scheduled for this Saturday, sees Atlético face Real Sociedad — and Lookman is expected to feature prominently.
For Lookman, the Copa del Rey final represents the opportunity to win his first major honour with the club since completing his move from Serie A. A positive result against Real Sociedad would carry significance beyond the trophy itself, providing confidence and momentum heading into the high-stakes Champions League semi-final against Arsenal.
The prospect of facing Arsenal has generated commentary across European football. Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has suggested Lookman will be motivated to prove a point against the Premier League side, while Atlético have been widely assessed as a formidable obstacle for Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Lookman himself has spoken openly about the challenge ahead. Following the Barcelona victory, he acknowledged Arsenal as “another top team” — a measured but pointed acknowledgement of what awaits in the last four.
The semi-final draw pits two of European football’s more defensively structured sides against each other, with both Simeone and Arteta known for their tactical discipline. Atlético’s experience in knockout football under Simeone, coupled with Lookman’s current form, will make them a difficult proposition for any opponent at this stage of the competition.
