Lookman Shines as Atletico Madrid Cruises Past Real Betis to Reach Copa Semis

Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026.  EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal
Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026. EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal
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Lookman Shines as Atletico Madrid Cruises Past Real Betis to Reach Copa Semis

Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026.  EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal
Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026. EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal

Ademola Lookman scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis on Thursday that sent Diego Simeone's team to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.

David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also scored for Atletico as it advanced to the last four for the third straight season.

Atletico will try to reach its first Copa final since winning the competition for the last time in 2012-13.

The draw for the semifinals — which also includes Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad — will be on Friday.

Hancko opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Giuliano Simeone added to the lead in the 30th before Lookman got his first goal for Atletico on a fast breakaway in the 37th.

“I'm very, very happy, very proud to make my debut tonight, especial performance from the team,” said Lookman, who had only a couple of training sessions before being added to the starting lineup.

“Obviously the team and the staff and everybody has welcomed me very nicely. It has made it easy for me to settle in,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Griezmann scored the fourth goal in the 62nd — with an assist by Lookman — and Almada closed the scoring in the 83rd.

“He came to help us and hopefully we can help him so he can continue to improve,” coach Simeone said of Lookman. "He has different qualities than the players we have and that will make us better.”

Lookman was signed from Atalanta near the end of the winter transfer window. The 28-year-old Nigeria forward had requested to leave Atalanta citing broken promises and poor treatment.

“We always open the doors to everyone who arrives here from the very beginning,” Griezmann said. “We have to enjoy these new player and hope that they help us like they did tonight.”

Mexico midfielder Obed Vargas also made his Atletico debut after being signed from the Seattle Sounders. He came off the bench in the 79th to replace Lookman. Another winter signing by Atletico, midfielder Rodri Mendoza, came on in the 66th.

Atletico and Betis will meet again on Sunday in the Spanish league, with Atletico as the host. Atletico is third in the league, with Betis in fifth place but 10 points behind Atletico.

On Wednesday, Iñaki Williams scored six minutes into stoppage time as Athletic Bilbao won 2-1 at Valencia to reach its sixth Copa semifinal in seven seasons, while Basque Country rival Real Sociedad made it to the last-four for the third straight season by winning 3-2 at Alaves.

On Tuesday, Barcelona beat second-division Albacete 2-1. Albacete had eliminated Real Madrid in the round of 16.



Recent Wins over Chelsea Mean Nothing, Says Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026.  EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. EPA/DAVID CLIFF
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Recent Wins over Chelsea Mean Nothing, Says Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026.  EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. EPA/DAVID CLIFF

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is taking no comfort from his team's good record against Chelsea, and the Premier League leaders will be fully prepared to deal with their London rivals' adaptability when they meet on Sunday.

Arsenal beat Chelsea twice in the League Cup semi-finals recently and have not lost to them since 2021, with Arteta's side winning 10 of the last 16 matches between them.

Arsenal were held to a draw by 10-man Chelsea in November, and Liam Rosenior's Chelsea are coming into Sunday's game looking to continue a six-match unbeaten run in the league, Reuters reported.

"We know the importance of the game and the team we are going to have in front of us. We just have to prepare in the best way to earn the right to win it, as I always said," Arteta told reporters on Friday.

"What you have done two weeks or two years ago is irrelevant because every game and every context is different, the players might change, the mood of the team might be different. We are prepared."

Arteta praised Chelsea's ability to adapt to the game under Rosenior, who is yet to lose a league game as Chelsea manager.

"They can change throughout the game and they have a manager very comfortable doing that, so we are prepared for the possible scenarios we can face and then we will try to be better than them," Arteta added.

Asked if Arsenal can become the first English club to win the quadruple - including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and the Champions League - this season, Arteta shrugged off the idea.

"Has it been done? That is how difficult it is," he said.

"So let's go game by game and try to earn the right to be there in the last stage of every competition, and then we will see what happens."


Firing of Ruben Amorim Could Cost Man United $21 Million

FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa
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Firing of Ruben Amorim Could Cost Man United $21 Million

FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa

Manchester United's cost for firing Ruben Amorim could reach 15.9 million pounds ($21.4 million), the Premier League club said in a financial filing.

Amorim was fired as head coach on Jan. 5 after just 14 months in the job, with the announcement coming shortly after he made provocative comments about his position within United’s hierarchy.

“A charge of £6.3 million for the write-off of related intangible assets and a provision of £15.9 million, representing the maximum potential amount of future settlement payments, will be recognized in the statement of profit or (loss) during the second half of the year ending 30 June 2026,” the club wrote of its Amorim-related costs, The AP news reported.

The 6.3 million pounds ($8.5 million) is related to the cost of hiring Amorim from Sporting Lisbon in November 2024.

The figure of 15.9 million pounds represents United's potential maximum owed to Amorim and his coaching staff. The filing didn't specify but media reports indicate the final figure includes factors such as if, or when, Amorim gets a new job.

United's share price closed at $17.62 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. The club is owned by the Glazer family from the United States and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The 20-time English champion has hired Michael Carrick on a contract to the end of the season, and the former United player has overseen the team's rise to fourth place in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's game against Crystal Palace.


PSG Hit by Injuries ahead of Champions League Round of 16 Face-off with Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
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PSG Hit by Injuries ahead of Champions League Round of 16 Face-off with Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

French league leader Paris Saint-Germain will be without injured star forward Ousmane Dembélé for Saturday's trip to Le Havre.

PSG said in a statement on Friday that the Ballon d’Or winner remains sidelined after suffering a calf injury and is training on his own. It's unclear whether Dembélé will recover in time for the title holder's clash with Chelsea next month in the Champions League round of 16, The AP news reported.

The midfielder Senny Mayulu, who is continuing his individual training sessions, will also be missing against Le Havre.

PSG added that Fabian Ruiz will carry out an adapted individual training program over the next two weeks to relieve his knee pain. Fellow midfielder João Neves, who is hampered by a left ankle injury, will remain having treatment over the coming days.

The club has a two-point lead over Lens in the French league after 23 rounds.