Ademola Lookman has been diagnosed with swelling in his adductor and will miss at least a week, affecting his availability for Atlético Madrid's upcoming matches, including a crucial UEFA Champions League semifinal against Arsenal.
Key points
Ademola Lookman has swelling in his adductor.
Lookman will miss at least a week of action.
His absence includes two league games and potentially the match against Arsenal.
Lookman has scored seven goals since joining Atlético in February.
Ademola LookmanAtlético de MadridArsenalUEFA Champions League
SEVILLA, SPAIN - APRIL 18: Ademola Lookman of Atletico de Madrid warms up during the Spanish Cup, Copa del Rey, Final match played between Atletico de Madrid and Real Sociedad at La Cartuja stadium on April 18, 2026 in Sevilla, Spain. (Photo By Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
SEVILLA, SPAIN - APRIL 18: Ademola Lookman of Atletico de Madrid warms up during the Spanish Cup, Copa del Rey, Final match played between Atletico de Madrid and Real Sociedad at La Cartuja stadium on April 18, 2026 in Sevilla, Spain. (Photo By Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
Shortly after the hour mark in Saturday’s Copa del Rey final, Diego Simeone raised a lot of eyebrows when he substituted Ademola Lookman in a double change that altered Atlético de Madrid’s attacking dynamics. The dangerous Lookman — who had equalized in the 19th minute after Ander Barrenetxea’s very early opener — had been giving Real Sociedad’s Jon Aramburu fits on the left flank, and his exit saw Atlético play more centrally around a fixed central presence in Alexander Sørloth while Julián Alvarez floated behind him.
The strategy somewhat paid off as Alvarez scored an 83rd-minute equalizer to take the final to extra time. But Atleti lost the final on penalties, which led to second-guessing and withering criticism as the Rojiblancos’ Copa del Rey drought extended to at least another year.
We know now though why Simeone removed arguably his most lethal attacker only halfway through the 120-minute marathon final.
, tests on Monday revealed that Lookman has some swelling in his adductor after he felt a sharp thigh pain during the final. Lookman will miss at least a week, a stretch encompassing Atlético’s next two league games, at and home to Athletic Club. Next Wednesday, Atleti host in the first leg of a UEFA Champions League semifinal tie, and it is uncertain whether the star forward will be fit for a clash that now goes some way toward defining the Rojiblancos’ season.
Alexander Sørloth also suffered an injury during Saturday’s game in Sevilla. The big Norwegian has a contusion that will keep him out of the next two league fixtures, but he should be fit to face Arsenal. In any case, Sørloth and Lookman will be held out of team training for the next few days as the medical staff exercises “maximum caution” with both attackers.
Finally, was subbed off in extra time due to exhaustion; fortunately, Marca’s report adds that the has no injury, and he should be fit to participate in the upcoming league matches before the Arsenal tie begins.
Right as Cholo Simeone welcomes back , he suffers the blow of losing Lookman, who has scored seven goals and provided three assists since he joined Atlético in February. Simeone has been criticized for his handling of Lookman; some fans have insisted that the coach doesn’t like the player, who has played more than 70 minutes in only two of his 18 appearances to date and has never exceeded the 78 minutes he received in his goalscoring debut at in February.
However, LaLiga has been on the back burner for Atlético since Lookman arrived, as all of the team’s energy had been focused on the cup competitions. Additionally, Lookman got off to a slow start this season, hardly playing before October as he became embroiled in a dispute with former club over a failed transfer to last summer. It is more than possible that Lookman hasn’t been fully fit all season, despite his starring role for at AFCON during the winter.
I think Simeone has been trying to monitor Lookman’s minutes, just as he was with Barrios until the star midfielder suffered the first of two successive muscle injuries on Feb. 5. But even the best-laid plans sometimes don’t pay off — the Copa final was proof enough of that.
Q&A
What injury does Ademola Lookman have?
Ademola Lookman has swelling in his adductor after experiencing sharp thigh pain during the Copa del Rey final.
How long will Ademola Lookman be out due to his injury?
Lookman is expected to miss at least a week, which includes Atlético's next two league games.
Will Ademola Lookman be fit to play against Arsenal?
It is uncertain if Lookman will be fit for the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Arsenal next Wednesday.
What impact does Lookman's injury have on Atlético Madrid's season?
Lookman's injury is significant as it affects Atlético's attacking options in crucial upcoming matches, including the Champions League.
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