Ademola Lookman’s Atletico Cruise into Q’finals, Galatasaray Crash out

Nigerian international, Ademola Lookman, will play in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in just his first season with Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish LaLiga side lost the second leg of the Last 16 fixture against Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in London but the 5-2 win in the first leg gave Atlético aggregate 7-5 victory to cruise into the quarterfinals.

Lookman was denied getting on the scorer’s sheet as early as the sixth minute when he tapped in a drill by Giuliano Simeone but was flagged offside. Few minutes later the former Atalanta man, was again denied another chance when he was intercepted by Cristian Romero in the six yard box.

However, in the 63rd minute, the Super Eagles forward was pulled out by Coach Diego Simeone for Alexander Sørloth with Atletico one goal behind with Spurs leading 2-1. David Hancko leveled for Atletico in the 75th but Xavi Simons sealed first win for new coach Igor Tudor. It was however not enough to see Spurs in the Last eight.

Elsewhere at Anfield, Victor Osimhen and his Galatasaray teammates were sent packing from the Champions League with a dominant 4-0 defeat. It effectively cancelled the 1-0 slim advantage the Turkish team took to England from the first leg.

Liverpool delivered a scintillating performance to put four goals past Galatasaray and set up a Champions League quarter-final against reigning champions Paris St-Germain.

Trailing 1-0 after defeat in Istanbul last week, Arne Slot’s side levelled the tie on aggregate when Dominik Szoboszlai converted a well-worked set-piece.

On the brink of half-time, Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by Ugurcan Cakir but Liverpool scored three goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes to put the tie to bed. Hugo Ekitike tapped in from close range after a superb ball from Salah before Ryan Gravenberch finished after Salah’s effort was saved by Cakir.

RESULTS

UCL

Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle

(Aggregate 8-3)

B’Munich 4-1 Atalanta

(Aggregate 10-2)

Liverpool 4-0 Galatasaray

(Aggregate 4-1)

Tottenham 3-2 Atlético

(Aggregate 5-7)

EUROPA LEAGUE

Freiburg v Genk