Ademola Lookman has praised Atletico Madrid’s fighting spirit after Diego Simeone’s men secured a 1-1 draw against VfB Stuttgart in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles forward came off the bench at half-time and provided the assist for Julian Alvarez’s equaliser before Atletico were reduced to 10 men in the second half.
Morten Hjulmand received a straight red card in the 64th minute, leaving the visitors to defend their point against a Stuttgart side that pushed for a winner.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Atletico held on to secure a point.
Reacting after the match, Lookman highlighted the team’s togetherness in the face of adversity.
“We were left with ten players, but we stayed united and took away a point,” the Nigerian forward said.
The result reflected Atletico’s resilience after a difficult first half in which the hosts created several opportunities and took the lead through Jamie Leweling in the 36th minute.
However, Lookman’s introduction proved decisive as Atletico responded shortly after the restart.
Lookman replaced Jonathan David at the beginning of the second half and made an immediate impact.
Just two minutes after the restart, the Nigerian drove forward and delivered a cutback into the penalty area for Alvarez, who finished to restore parity in the 47th minute.
The goal was Alvarez’s first of the 2026/27 campaign and gave Atletico renewed momentum after a challenging opening period.
However, Hjulmand’s dismissal in the 64th minute changed the complexion of the contest, forcing Simeone’s side to focus on protecting the draw.
Stuttgart continued to search for a winner, but Atletico stood firm to leave Germany with a point.
The result leaves Atletico with four points from their opening three Champions League matches. The assist provided by Lookman is an important contribution as he celebrated his 29th birthday on Tuesday.
Atletico will now turn their attention to their next fixtures as they look to strengthen their position in the Champions League league phase.
