Ademola Lookman wrote himself into Nigerian football history by becoming the first Super Eagle to score in the Madrid derby, but Real Madrid’s second-half comeback, completed with 10 men, handed Atletico a painful 3-2 home defeat that effectively hands the La Liga title race to Barcelona.
The Santiago Bernabeu provided the stage, and Ademola Lookman did not waste the moment. The Nigerian winger, now in his debut season with Atletico Madrid after his sensational Atalanta years, scored a close-range finish in the 33rd minute to give Atletico the lead in Sunday’s La Liga derby, etching his name into the history books as the first Nigerian to score in the Madrid derby. It is a milestone that will outlast this single result, regardless of how the afternoon ended. Nigerian fans backing the La Liga title race can check out the Bet9ja’s current promo code for new account holders before the next round of Spanish football.
How the Goal Came About
The assist chain started with Johnny Cardoso picking out Lookman on the left flank. The 28-year-old drew out two Real Madrid defenders, playing the ball wide to Matteo Ruggeri. The ball worked its way back to Lookman, who took a backheel assist from Giuliano Simeone and slotted home from close range. It was the kind of composed finish that has become Lookman’s trademark, combining awareness and technical quality in tight spaces. With two La Liga goals from 12 appearances in his debut campaign at Atletico, Lookman is already showing the range that made him a serial match-winner in Serie A. For La Liga fans wanting to back Lookman’s continuing form, the Bet9ja sign-up offer is available to new Nigerian bettors before each matchday.
Real Madrid Fight Back Against the Odds
Atletico’s lead lasted only until the second half. Real Madrid, who had started the game knowing they trailed leaders Barcelona by seven points, came out with renewed urgency after the break. A Vinicius Jr penalty on 52 minutes levelled the tie, and Fede Valverde’s strike three minutes later put Madrid in front. Atletico equalised through a stunning Nahuel Molina effort on 66 minutes, but Vinicius Jr then restored Real Madrid’s advantage from outside the box to make it 3-2 with 18 minutes left. Read previews and pick your bets with the Bet9ja’s sign-up offer for upcoming La Liga fixtures.
Five minutes after that third Madrid goal came the red card for Valverde after a VAR review. It was too late to matter. Atletico could not find an equaliser against a reduced side, and the 3-2 final whistle left Diego Simeone’s team in fourth place with 57 points, 16 points behind leaders Barcelona at the top.
Where This Leaves the Title Race
Real Madrid moved to 69 points, closing the gap on Barcelona to four points. Barcelona had earlier on Sunday beaten Rayo Vallecano to extend their advantage to seven before Madrid’s win reduced the deficit again. Atletico, despite Lookman’s brilliant individual contribution, are now too far adrift to threaten either. The night was still historic for Nigerian football; it just did not deliver the result the Rojiblanco faithful desperately wanted.
📌 Did You Know?
- Lookman scored the only hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final in 2024, netting all three goals as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in Dublin, a feat that had never been achieved in the competition’s history.
- Before joining Atletico Madrid, Lookman had spells at Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig and Atalanta, making his career trajectory one of the most interesting among Nigerian footballers of his generation.
- The Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid is commonly known as the “Derbi Madrileno” and has been played over 240 times in various competitions since the clubs’ first meeting in the early 20th century.
- Giuliano Simeone, who provided the backheel assist for Lookman’s goal, is the son of Atletico manager Diego Simeone, making it a family affair in the assist chain for one of the match’s key moments.
- Fede Valverde’s red card was the result of a VAR review, continuing a trend in La Liga of technology significantly affecting match outcomes through post-incident decisions.
- Atletico Madrid has not won the La Liga title since their 2020/2021 championship, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona consistently mounting stronger challenges in recent seasons.
- Nigerian footballers have scored in some of the most prestigious fixtures in world football, but until Lookman’s goal on Sunday no Super Eagle had ever found the net in a Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid derby match.
