Ademola Lookman has announced he’s fully fit and prepared to take on Arsenal in the first leg of Atlético Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano tomorrow. The Nigerian forward had been sidelined for Atlético’s last two La Liga matches due to an abductor injury, but he confirmed at the pre-match press conference that he’s back to full fitness after returning to training earlier this week.
“I missed the last few matches, but now I feel much better,” Lookman said, providing a major boost to Atlético Madrid ahead of their high-stakes clash with the Gunners. The 27-year-old forward also spoke about the personal significance of facing Arsenal, his childhood club. “The first time I played against Arsenal was when I was a kid, with Charlton. Wednesday will be a special game,” he recalled.
Since joining Atlético from Atalanta in January, Lookman has made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals and providing four assists, quickly becoming a key player in Diego Simeone’s attack. His return comes at a crucial time for Atlético, who are also monitoring the fitness of star striker Julián Álvarez. The Argentine forward, who has scored nine goals in this Champions League campaign, missed Saturday’s La Liga victory over Athletic Club due to discomfort but is expected to be available for tomorrow’s match, pending his recovery.
However, Atlético’s injury concerns don’t end there. Midfielder Pablo Barrios has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury, and forward Alexander Sørloth is also nursing discomfort from the Copa del Rey final. Despite these setbacks, Atlético remain optimistic and focused on the task at hand.
“We’re heading into the semi-finals with all our enthusiasm and faith,” Atlético’s manager, Diego Simeone, said. “We know our strengths and weaknesses, and we have great confidence in what we do. We’re going to chase after what we’ve been pursuing for many years.”
Forward Antoine Griezmann echoed this sentiment: “It doesn’t matter who we face as long as we’re still in it. It was a struggle against Barcelona, but we’re still in it,” he said, rallying the team ahead of the high-profile fixture.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will arrive in Madrid full of confidence after making history as the first club in their 140-year existence to reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals. Manager Mikel Arteta celebrated the achievement, calling it “very special,” and added that his side deserved to be among Europe’s elite.
Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli, who scored against Atlético in the group stage, cautioned against complacency despite Arsenal’s strong record in recent encounters with the Spanish side. “We believe in ourselves, and we know the quality we have. We won against them in the league phase, but it’s going to be a completely different game,” Martinelli warned.
With both sides brimming with confidence and talent, the stage is set for a thrilling semi-final encounter in Madrid.
