UCL: Lookman shines in Atletico’s aggregate win over Barcelona

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman scored the decisive goal as Atletico Madrid defeated FC Barcelona to reach the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Barcelona, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, responded early through Lamine Yamal, who scored in the fifth minute after a mistake by Clement Lenglet. The visitors levelled the tie in the 24th minute when Ferran Torres finished from a pass by Dani Olmo.

Nineteen minutes later, the tie was level, Ferran Torres latched onto a Dani Olmo pass and drilled a fine left-footed strike into the top corner.

A raucous home crowd was silenced for seven minutes, until Marcos Llorente broke down the right flank and found Ademola Lookman in the box to restore Atleti’s aggregate lead.

Barca should have gone 3-0 up on the night just five minutes earlier, but Musso spread himself to block a diving header from an unmarked Fermin Lopez.

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Torres thought he had scored Barca’s third goal 10 minutes into the second half when he met a deflection in the box with a cushioned volley into the top corner, but after a VAR check, his effort was ruled out for offside.

The visitors continued to push but, as happened in the first leg last week, were reduced to 10 men when Eric Garcia tripped Atleti striker Alexander Sorloth as he raced onto a through ball.

Atleti will face either Arsenal or Sporting CP in the semi-finals as they look to reach the final for the first time since 2016.

Atleti will turn their attention to Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad in Seville (18 April, 20:00 BST).

Barcelona have a week to prepare for their home clash with Celta Vigo in La Liga (Wednesday, 22 April (20:30 BST).