Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal: Lookman fails to shine as Rojiblancos push Alvarez towards Barca
If Ademola Lookman is to wrest the star status at Atletico Madrid away from wantaway Julian Alvarez, performances like against Villarreal must be few and far between.
Ademola Lookman struggled for impact as ten-man Atlético Madrid salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against Villarreal CF at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday afternoon.
While Giuliano Simeone’s late equaliser snatched a crucial point for Diego Simeone’s side, the match was overshadowed by the hostile reception given to Julián Alvarez.
Alvarez jeered; Lookman failed to earn cheers
The standout moment of the tie came midway through the second half when Diego Simeone introduced Julián Álvarez in the 66th minute.
Making his first home appearance since lodging an official transfer request to Barcelona, the Argentine forward was greeted by a deafening barrage of boos and whistles from the Metropolitano faithful.
Alvarez made minimal impact during his 24 minutes on the pitch, completing just eight passes, and was visibly displeased by the jeers, which could further strenghen his resolve to leave.
Compounding Atlético’s early-season attacking friction, Nigerian international Ademola Lookman endured a quiet afternoon.
Neutralised by Villarreal’s backline, Lookman failed to register a single shot on target. His frustrating performance ended in the 78th minute when he was unceremoniously subbed off immediately after Villarreal took the lead.