Lookman surpasses Ikpeba in Champions League goal tally, with Osimhen and Martins leading Nigerians

Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for Barcelona in the fourth minute at Estadio Metropolitano, and Ferran Torres extended the lead to two goals in the 24th minute, assisted by Dani Olmo.

Yet, the ex Africa Player of the Year pulled one back just seven minutes later during the eventful opening period.

Taking advantage of a low delivery from Marcos Llorente, Lookman fired the ball into the net from near range, keeping Diego Simeone's squad in the match.

That effort saw him surpass Victor Ikpeba's previous record of seven goals in the competition, achieving his eighth in 21 outings in the Champions League.

Among Nigerian players, only Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray and ex Inter Milan forward Obafemi Martins have recorded higher totals, with 16 and nine strikes respectively in the tournament's records.

Barcelona's chances of a comeback faded further when Eric García received a red card in the 80th minute for fouling Alexander Sorloth, leading to a 3–2 aggregate defeat.

This marks the third occasion the Rojiblancos have knocked out the Catalan club at this knockout stage, following successes in 2014 and 2016.

Beyond his goal, Lookman put in a strong overall showing, evident from the data up to his withdrawal in the 66th minute for Nicolas Gonzalez.

After moving to the LaLiga outfit from Atalanta on a contract lasting four and a half years, the Nigeria international has shone brightly. He netted on his first appearance against Real Betis and matched Atletico Madrid's strongest early season record, set by Luis Suarez in 2020/21.

“It felt like quite the up and down ride. Clearly, falling two goals behind was challenging, but the match split into distinct halves,” he shared with TNT Sports.

“We held firm, we pushed through, and while we did not claim victory this evening, the key point is advancing to the semi finals.”

Atletico's manager Simeone, commenting on the squad's strategic growth and repeated triumphs over Barcelona in various periods, highlighted a shift towards greater attacking intent.

"Eliminating Barca from the Champions League quarter finals is no simple task. We have taken on (Lionel) Messi's Barca, Yamal's Barca, and come out on top," the Argentine remarked to reporters.

"It's been 14 years now. Watching the team battle on still stirs my emotions. The roster has turned over, we have rebuilt numerous times, and here we are again among Europe's top four clubs. What a thrill to compete in a Champions League semi final!"

Atletico Madrid awaits a semi final clash against either Arsenal from England or Sporting CP, aiming for a spot in the final.