UCL: Lookman sends Atletico into semis as PSG dump out Liverpool

Ademola Lookman made the difference as Atletico Madrid lost 2-1 to ten-man Barcelona but advanced into the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) on Tuesday night.

The Super Eagles forward scored Atletico Madrid’s all-important goal that restored Los Colchoneros’ advantage in the tie after going two goals down midway through the first half. Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scored Barcelona’s goals as the Catalans lost 3-2 on aggregate.

Yamal pounced on a defensive mistake and slotted the loose ball under the goalkeeper for 1-0 in five minutes. Another poor communication allowed Dani Olmo to slip Torres through. The former Man City player finished into the far corner to cancel Atletico’s two-goal advantage from the first leg.

Diego Simeone urged his team to stay calm, and they restored their composure to lahf the deficit on 31 minutes when Lookman produced a first-time finish from Marcos Llorente’s cutback.

Barcelona went in search of more goals and had one ruled out for offside in the second half, minutes before Eric Garcia was sent off for a professional foul as the last defender, for Barca’s second dismissal in the two-legged tie.

Atletico held on in the final moments of the tense encounter, weathering chances for Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo to secure the 3-2 aggregate victory that marks Atletico’s return to the UCL last-four for the first time since 2017.

The home side has also eliminated Barcelona at the quarter-final stage for the third consecutive time, adding to exits in 2014 and 2016.

In England, Liverpool lost 2-0 at home and 4-0 on aggregate to UCL champions Paris Saint-Germain, crashing out, with Ousmane Dembele scoring both goals late in the encounter.