Lookman aims to shine in Madrid derby against Real

Ademola Lookman wants to make an impact against Real Madrid when Atletico Madrid plays their city rivals in the first Madrid derby of the 2026/27 La Liga season at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday. Lookman has already scored against Los Blancos in an Atletico shirt, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Lookman has netted twice in three matches against Real Madrid, but all three games ended in defeat for his team. His first encounter with the Spanish club was in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup, where Atalanta lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in Warsaw. Lookman played the full match as Carlo Ancelotti’s team took home the trophy.

Four months later, he had a more impactful performance when Real Madrid came to Bergamo for a Champions League match. Atalanta lost 3-2, but Lookman scored one of the goals and was named UEFA’s Player of The Match for his outstanding effort against the European giants.

His next game against Real Madrid was after joining Atletico, where he played in his first Madrid derby at Santiago Bernabeu in March. Lookman opened the scoring for Atletico, but Real Madrid fought back to win 3-2. This gave Lookman his second goal in three matches against the Spanish team.

This upcoming match will motivate Atletico, who want to bounce back after losing their last meeting with Real Madrid. Simeone’s team, however, secured a 5-2 victory over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano last season.

For Lookman, this game is another chance to make an impact, with his ability to play in different roles becoming more important under Diego Simeone. The 28-year-old has played in various attacking positions this season, including left wing, center, and as a supporting striker. He has scored once in seven games.

Lookman believes that being able to adapt to different positions will help him become a better player. He is also ready for a tough match against a Real Madrid team that has stayed close to Barcelona, despite dropping points earlier in the season.

“They are a first-class team. We know that facing such a good team will definitely be a tough fight,” he told Sporty TV. “But we are ready for the challenge. Our team also has many excellent players, so we are looking forward to this challenge.”

Atletico may need to make last-minute decisions on Julian Alvarez, Pablo Barrios, and Alexander Sorloth, who have been dealing with muscle issues. Alvarez has missed the last two matches, so his participation in the derby is uncertain.

Atletico heads into Sunday’s match in fourth place in La Liga with 13 points from six games. They have won four, drawn one, and lost one. They have bounced back strongly after a rough start in September, winning convincingly against Real Sociedad and Osasuna after earlier losses to Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool.

Atletico beat Real Sociedad 3-0 and then won 4-0 against Osasuna in their last match. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is second with 15 points, three behind leaders Barcelona. Jose Mourinho’s team comes into the derby after a 3-2 win over Elche, recovering from a 1-0 loss to Real Betis with victories against Inter Milan, Rayo Vallecano, and Elche.

The two Madrid clubs meet with just two points separating them in the table, which makes this derby even more significant. Sunday’s match gives Lookman another chance to improve his record against Real Madrid while Atletico aims to continue their recent form and close the gap on their city rivals.

For Lookman, scoring another goal against Los Blancos would not only boost his personal record but also help Atletico in one of the biggest matches in Spanish football.