Ademola Lookman Shines in Atlético Madrid Pre-Season Opener
Ademola Lookman wasted no time announcing himself in Atlético Madrid colours.
On a warm Wednesday that felt more like a training exercise than a true contest, the Nigerian forward lit up Atlético’s pre-season opener with two first-half goals in a 4-1 win over a youthful, understrength Getafe side. The opposition may have been makeshift, but Lookman’s sharpness was anything but.
Lookman stakes an early claim
These games are usually about fitness, rhythm, and little else. Lookman turned it into a statement.
Twice before the interval he found the net, the standout figure in a match that Atlético controlled from the opening whistle. His movement, timing and conviction in front of goal offered a glimpse of how central he could become to Diego Simeone’s attacking plans in the months ahead.
The scoreline, though, tells only part of the story. Getafe arrived with a heavily depleted squad, relying largely on academy players. The gulf in experience showed, and it tempers any sweeping conclusions about Atlético’s dominance. This was not a full-blooded La Liga rehearsal; it was closer to a live drill.
Even so, when a forward starts pre-season with a brace, coaches notice. Teammates notice. Defenders across the league will have taken note as well.
Simeone experiments with three at the back
Beyond Lookman’s finishing, the most intriguing takeaway came from the touchline. Simeone rolled out a three-centre-back system, flanked by advanced wing roles that stretched the pitch and asked different questions of his players.
Marcos Llorente thrived in that shape, given license to surge into space and link play with the front line. His energy suited the structure, turning transitions into quick, dangerous thrusts rather than slow, methodical build-up.
The system also hinted at how Alejandro Grimaldo, a new arrival yet to begin training with the squad, might be used. His profile fits the aggressive wing role Simeone tested here, even if this was only a sketch on the tactical drawing board rather than a finished blueprint.
Whether this three-at-the-back look becomes a regular feature or remains a pre-season experiment is still an open question. Simeone has built his reputation on adaptability within a clear identity; this was another variation on that theme.
A squad still taking shape
With several players still absent after their involvement in the 2026 World Cup, this was only a partial view of Atlético’s true depth. Simeone still managed to field a substantial portion of his senior squad, enough to impose structure and intensity against a callow Getafe lineup.
In that context, Lookman’s contribution stood out even more. Two goals, constant threat, and a performance that suggested he is ready to shoulder responsibility in an attack that has sometimes lacked variety and ruthlessness.
Pre-season results rarely define a campaign. But they do offer clues.
Here, the clues were clear: a forward in form early, a coach testing new tactical ground, and a squad still assembling its final shape.
If this was only the first rehearsal, Lookman has already claimed centre stage.
