Copa del Rey: Lookman scores as Atletico Madrid beat Barca 4-0

By Tosin Omojola –

Nigerian international Ademola Lookman was on target again as Atletico Madrid took a big step towards the final of the Spanish Copa del Rey with a 4-0 first-leg win over Barcelona on Thursday night.

Lookman, who scored in the 5-0 defeat of Real Betis in the quarter-final tie — his first outing since joining the club — netted his side’s third goal of the night.

Atletico Madrid produced an outstanding first-half display of attacking football as they thrashed the La Liga leaders in the first-leg semi-final encounter. The opener set the tone for what was a disastrous evening for Barcelona, as Eric Garcia’s backpass to Joan Garcia rolled under the goalkeeper’s foot and trickled into his own net.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 14th minute when the competition’s top scorer this season, Antoine Griezmann, curled home a fine finish against his former club. They added a third in the 33rd minute when Giuliano Simeone broke down the right before passing to Julian Alvarez, and the former Manchester City forward clipped the ball across to Lookman, who drove in his second goal in as many games for his new club.

Alvarez then ended his two-month, 11-match goal drought with an emphatic finish, thumping an unstoppable drive into the back of the net from distance in first-half added time to wrap up a big win for Diego Simeone’s side.

More misfortune followed for the visitors, who thought they had pulled a goal back in the second half when Cubarsi prodded in after being set up by Robert Lewandowski. However, the effort was ruled out after a VAR check for offside.

Garcia and Barcelona’s night got even worse when the defender was sent off with five minutes left following a VAR review after he fouled Alex Baena as the substitute burst through towards goal.

The loss leaves Barcelona with it all to do when they host the 10-time winners in the return leg on 3 March.