Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in the Madrid derby, with manager Diego Simeone publicly backing Ademola Lookman just before the Nigerian links up with the Super Eagles.
Ademola Lookman has had a quiet start to the season by his own high standards, but his manager isn’t worried. Diego Simeone used his pre-derby press conference to publicly back the Super Eagles forward, and Atletico Madrid went on to beat 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 at the Metropolitano. With Lookman due to link up with Nigeria for AFCON qualifying duty within days, the timing of that vote of confidence matters.
Lookman joined Atletico from Atalanta in the winter transfer window and made an immediate impact, scoring nine goals and setting up four more in 24 appearances across all competitions in the second half of last season. This campaign has looked different. Through seven appearances in 2026/27, he’s scored once and gone four consecutive matches without finding the net — a dip that’s easy to notice given how sharp he looked immediately after his move.
Part of the explanation is tactical. Following Antoine Griezmann’s departure and uncertainty around Julian Alvarez, Lookman has been used in several attacking roles, including as a central striker in Atletico’s opening two league games, before returning to his preferred left-wing position against Sevilla. As he put it himself, learning different positions “can certainly enrich my game and make me a more complete player” — not the words of a player panicking about a slow start, but a sign he’s treating it as part of his development.
Speaking ahead of the Madrid derby, Simeone made his priorities clear. “He is a footballer who has a profile that we don’t have much. He is the most decisive in one-on-one situations on the edge of the box,” the Atletico boss said, in comments carried by Marca. He went further, stressing the team’s reliance on Lookman regardless of minutes played: “We need him, whether it’s 60, 70 minutes or whatever he plays. He has done us very well since he arrived.”
That’s a notable show of faith from a manager not usually known for public reassurance. Simeone has also acknowledged that playing Lookman as a central striker early in the season wasn’t the ideal use of his qualities — a tactical rethink that appears to be paying off with his return to the left flank.
The backing came good. Atletico Madrid beat a 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 at the Metropolitano, with second-half goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David securing the win after Dean Huijsen was sent off for pulling down Giuliano Simeone in the box. Antonio Rudiger pulled one back late on for Real Madrid, but it wasn’t enough — Atletico moved above their city rivals into second place in La Liga as a result.
It’s worth noting Lookman already has some history against Real Madrid — he scored on his first appearance against Los Blancos after joining Atletico, so a manager looking to rediscover his attacking spark couldn’t have picked a more fitting fixture to make his point publicly.
Lookman links up with the Super Eagles squad this week ahead of Nigeria’s opening 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar on 25 September and Guinea-Bissau four days later. Speaking before departing for international duty, Lookman said the squad is “really looking forward to” the double-header, adding that both opponents will be tough but that the team is eager to take maximum points from the window.
A club manager publicly backing his form, followed by a derby win, is about as good a platform as Lookman could ask for heading into a qualifying campaign Nigeria cannot afford to start slowly. For the full context on Nigeria’s AFCON qualifying campaign, see our Nigeria vs Madagascar preview, and for more on how Nigeria’s stars have fared in Europe this season, our season review of Nigerian players abroad has the full picture.
How has Ademola Lookman performed for Atletico Madrid this season?
He’s made seven appearances in 2026/27, scoring once, after a strong debut half-season that brought nine goals and four assists in 24 games following his winter move from Atalanta.
What did Diego Simeone say about Lookman?
Ahead of the Madrid derby, Simeone said Lookman offers a profile the squad doesn’t otherwise have and that Atletico “need him” regardless of minutes played.
Who won the Madrid derby?
Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Real Madrid 2-1, with goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David, moving above their rivals into second place in La Liga.
When does Lookman join up with Nigeria?
He links up with the Super Eagles ahead of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar on 25 September and Guinea-Bissau on 29 September.
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