Tonight in a UEFA Champions League Playoff, it will be another of the Super Eagles – Raphael Onyedika and his Belgian team Club Brugge welcome Atletico Madrid, who will parade Ademola Lookman.
A special report by leading Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad has described Atletico new signing Ademola Lookman as “deadly” even though the Spanish club’s once formidable defence has in recent times failed to live up to their reputation.
The report said: “While Diego Simeone (Atletico coach) was praised over the past 10, 15 years for the rock-solid defense—the word “fortress” was certainly appropriate—he built, that fortress is crumbling bit by bit these days.
“Three goals conceded against Rayo Vallecano, two against Bodø/Glimt, four against Arsenal, three against Liverpool, two against Espanyol, even two against fourth-division side Balrares… Atlético Madrid have already conceded 40 goals in 37 matches across all competitions this season.”
It continued: “What should give Club Brugge hope is that, especially away from home, Atlético have lost their way this season.
“While they’ve already earned 31 points out of 36 in La Liga at home, the difference away from home is considerable: barely 14 points out of 36. A failure, in other words.
“If we look at the standings purely based on away matches, Atlético are only seventh in La Liga. And of the 40 goals they’ve conceded this season, a whopping 24 (in 17 matches) have come away, including three against Rayo Vallecano last Sunday.
“In the Champions League, they’ve conceded ten goals in four away matches.
“So, if Club Brugge want to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League, they’ll have to strike at home. Just as they did three years ago, winning 2-0 at home and drawing 0-0 in Madrid.”
Ademola Lookman and his fellow Atletico forwards will be the danger, however, the report concluded.
“While Atlético Madrid may no longer be the defensive powerhouse of yesteryear, they are a deadly counter-attacking team,” the analysis stated.
“Last week, they handed FC Barcelona a heavy 4-0 defeat through hyper-efficient counter-attacks. Atletico barely had 30 percent possession, yet they had already scored four times in the first 45 minutes.
“So, Club Madrid are warned: give Atlético’s runners (Lookman, Simeone, Alvarez) a second too much space or suffer foolish turnovers, and things can get deadly…”
