Ademola Lookman benched again by Diego Simeone for Atletico Madrid’s top-of-the-table LaLiga clash with Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano tonight, with Lee Kang-In preferred alongside Julian Alvarez in attack. The confirmed team news, released an hour before the 21:00 WAT kick-off, ends a day of conflicting predictions over the Super Eagles star’s place in the side — and confirms the fears of Nigerian fans who hoped he would start the biggest game of Atletico’s season so far.
Lookman, who has started nine of Atletico’s 15 matches this season, must now wait for his chance from the bench in a fixture that could decide the direction of the title race. Barcelona arrive top of LaLiga on 30 points, two ahead of Atletico, and a win for the visitors would restore a three-point lead at the summit. Real Madrid, who beat Valencia 3-0 on Saturday, have already pulled level with Barcelona on points, so the pressure is on both sides tonight.
Ademola Lookman benched: Lee starts ahead of the Super Eagles star
Atletico line up in Simeone’s usual 4-4-2, with Jan Oblak in goal behind a back four of Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, David Hancko and Alejandro Grimaldo. Pablo Barrios and Koke anchor the midfield, with Giuliano Simeone and Alex Baena on the flanks, and Lee Kang-In partnering Alvarez up front. The confirmed line-up released by Oddschecker, list Lookman among the substitutes alongside Jonathan David, Alexander Sorloth, Morten Hjulmand, Robin Le Normand and Johnny Cardoso.
It is a notable call from Simeone. Lee was listed as a doubt with a muscle injury earlier in the week, with Lookman the obvious alternative, but the South Korean passed fit and goes straight back into the side. Hjulmand, who missed the 2-0 Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, is also only on the bench, with Koke keeping his place in central midfield.
Barcelona, meanwhile, start Joan Garcia in goal behind Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and Brian Farinas, with Pedri, Marc Bernal and Fermin Lopez in midfield and Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Anthony Gordon in attack. The champions are without Rodri, ruled out with a right thigh injury, and the midfielder’s absence is the one big selection headache for Hansi Flick.
Why Simeone left Lookman out
The decision follows a difficult week for Lookman. He was heavily criticised after the Bayern defeat, with one Spanish report claiming he ‘couldn’t manage a single dribble’ in Munich, and Simeone has kept faith with the players who have carried Atletico through their seven-game winning run in LaLiga. The manager publicly backed his Super Eagles star after that defeat, but backing and starting are two different things — and tonight, Lee’s link play and work rate have won the day.
Lookman remains Simeone’s first attacking change, and the shape of the game could still suit him. If Atletico chase the game late on, expect Simeone to turn to the Nigerian, whose pace in behind could stretch a Barcelona back line that will push high.
What the benching means for Nigeria
The timing is awkward for the Super Eagles. Eric Chelle named Lookman in his 24-man squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Tanzania, with Nigeria hosting the Taifa Stars in Uyo on Friday 13 November before the return leg in Zanzibar on Tuesday 17 November. With Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze both out injured, Lookman is one of the senior attackers Chelle is counting on, and a run of games on the bench at club level is the last thing the coach needs from his star forward.
That said, a place in the squad was never in doubt — Lookman is one of the first names on Chelle’s teamsheet, and a strong game tonight could still be the perfect way to head into international duty. For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Atletico vs Barcelona: the title stakes
Few fixtures carry as much weight this early in a season. Barcelona have won seven of their last eight in the league, Atletico have won seven straight, and the Metropolitano has become a fortress under Simeone. A home win would take Atletico top; a Barcelona win would open a five-point gap over the hosts and keep Real Madrid at arm’s length.
For Lookman, the night is not over — it has just started later than he hoped. His net worth has climbed with every big season, but his value to Atletico right now will be measured in what he does when Simeone finally calls his number.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) — collage by SportsBuddy
