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.



Antonelli Stays Cool to Win Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix

 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
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Antonelli Stays Cool to Win Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix

 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli stayed ice-cool to win a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix and extend his run of victories this season to five on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Italian built a commanding lead after starting from pole in his Mercedes but that evaporated after a late red flag to inspect a crumbling surface at the final corner following a crash that took out Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

After a ‌delay of ‌around 40 minutes while repairs were ‌carried ⁠out, the race ⁠resumed with a standing start, but Antonelli remained unfazed as he became the youngest ever winner of the iconic race.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was runner-up for the second successive Grand Prix with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar provisionally third, although he was one ⁠of a number of drivers under investigation ‌for a variety of ‌infringements.

Hamilton, who equaled the late Ayrton Senna's eight Monaco ‌podiums, moved above Antonelli's team mate George Russell ‌into second place in the standings, 66 points behind Antonelli.

"It's been an incredible weekend and an incredible race," said Antonelli, who was not even born the last time ‌an Italian won the Monaco Grand Prix - Jarno Trulli in 2004.

"We had ⁠incredible pace ⁠and it all came so natural and that gave me the confidence to push."

A year after finishing last on his F1 debut at Monaco, Antonelli showed incredible poise to shrug off the red flag drama that meant he effectively had to win two races.

"I wasn't super keen on re-starting but once the notification came out, I just gathered my emotions and re-focused again. Once I got away and was P1 into the first corner I could enjoy the last few laps."


Algeria Extend Coach Petkovic’s Contract

Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
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Algeria Extend Coach Petkovic’s Contract

Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)

Algeria have extended Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic's contract until 2028, just days before the start of the World Cup.

Petkovic, 62, had been in charge of the Desert Foxes since 2024, taking over following Algeria's first round exit at the African Cup of Nations.

"The Swiss coach has managed some remarkable results since he took over," the Algerian federation said in a statement on Sunday.

Under Petkovic, Algeria have "won 21 matches, had four draws and lost only three matches", the federation added.

Algeria will line up in Group J at the World Cup alongside reigning champions Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

Petkovic was Switzerland coach from 2014 to 2021 and before that won the Italian Cup with Roma in 2013.


Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
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Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)

Iraq ‌have called up Ahmed Hassan Makenzie to their 2026 World Cup squad to replace Ahmed Yahya, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury, the national ‌team announced ‌on Saturday.

"Based on ‌the ⁠medical report, head ⁠coach Graham Arnold has decided to call up Ahmed Makenzie and register him in the final squad for ⁠the 2026 World Cup ‌finals ‌in place of Ahmed Yahya," ‌the national team said ‌in a statement on X.

The decision came as the Iraqi delegation arrived in ‌Chicago in the early hours of the ⁠morning ⁠to prepare for the tournament.

The tournament marks Iraq's first appearance at the World Cup since their sole participation 40 years ago. They are set to compete in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway.