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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
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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.

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Liverpool Playmaker Florian Wirtz Still Sidelined with Back Injury

Liverpool's Florian Wirtz controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Liverpool Playmaker Florian Wirtz Still Sidelined with Back Injury

Liverpool's Florian Wirtz controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz will miss Saturday's game against West Ham because of a lingering back injury, and manager Arne Slot said there's no timetable for the Germany playmaker's return.

Wirtz had been pulled from the lineup before last week's Premier League game at Nottingham Forest after experiencing back pain during the warm-up.

“I don't expect Florian to be available. That’s a disappointment, of course,” Slot said Friday at a press conference. “Every time when a player is not available, it’s a disappointment, and also something that I didn’t expect after last week.”

At the time of the injury, Slot had said: “We don’t think it’s very serious.”

The Dutch manager was asked Friday if he knows how long Wirtz will be out, The Associated Press reported.

“At this moment in time no, and usually when I say that I do know that, but I don’t want to share it,” Slot said. “But now, I honestly don’t know.”

Frimpong is back Netherlands right-back Jeremie Frimpong has trained with the team this week, “so he is available” against West Ham, Slot said.

Frimpong, who has dealt with several injuries in his first season at Anfield, has missed the past month with a muscle injury.

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Arsenal Face Chelsea Title Test, Troubled Spurs in Spotlight 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
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Arsenal Face Chelsea Title Test, Troubled Spurs in Spotlight 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)

Premier League leaders Arsenal face a title test from London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

Manchester City can keep the pressure on Arsenal with a win at Leeds, while troubled Tottenham cannot afford another damaging defeat.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend's action:

Players meeting sparked Arsenal revival

Arsenal revitalized their flagging title bid thanks to a meeting between the players prior to their vital 4-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday.

Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze both scored twice in a north London derby rout that came just four days after Arsenal were stunned by a 2-2 draw at bottom of the table Wolves.

The dropped points at Molineux led to questions about Arsenal's ability to cope with the title tension and Mikel Arteta's squad responded by thrashing out their issues in crunch talks.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said the players spoke to each other in a "firm" way, leading to a cathartic victory at Tottenham that reestablished a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.

"It's important sometimes just to say what you feel and to let it all out in the group," Gyokeres said ahead of Chelsea's visit to the Emirates Stadium.

"Most of us spoke. Everyone can recognize how different people feel in the moment and you get a better understanding of the feeling.

"If you're not honest, I think it's hard to improve. It was a good chat and now we're going to prepare for a big game against Chelsea."

Defiant Man City vow to keep fighting

Pep Guardiola has warned Arsenal that Manchester City will "never give up" as they chase the seventh Premier League title of his glittering reign.

Guardiola's side won 2-1 against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium last weekend to keep the destiny of the title in their hands.

Although Arsenal are five points ahead, City have a game in hand and host the Gunners in April.

If City win their last 11 matches they guaranteed to win the title no matter what Arsenal do in their remaining 10 games.

"When I was at Spurs and we drew 2-2 someone said why don't we drop the Premier League and focus on the cups. I said, 'No, why? Let's go, let's try'," Guardiola said before City's trip to Leeds on Saturday.

"Many things are going to happen. Never give up. Ten or 11 games is a lot of games in the Premier League."

Tudor adamant Spurs can survive

Facing the grim prospect of crashing into the second tier for the first time since 1977-78, Tottenham desperately need to slow their plunge towards the Championship by winning at Fulham on Sunday.

Igor Tudor's first game as interim boss ended in a chastening 4-1 defeat against arch-rivals Arsenal, leaving Tottenham perilously poised just four points above the relegation zone.

Tottenham have 11 games to save themselves from humiliation, but Tudor is hampered by a lengthy injury list and a confidence crisis triggered by the team's nine-match winless run.

"Of course there is enough time (to survive)," Tudor said.

"Stay humble, that is the key for each of us. Try to become what I said before: a hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment."

Sports

Barca Strikers Firing Blanks as Villarreal Visit 

FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski gestures during the Spanish La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD in Barcelona, Spain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski gestures during the Spanish La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD in Barcelona, Spain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
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Barca Strikers Firing Blanks as Villarreal Visit 

FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski gestures during the Spanish La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD in Barcelona, Spain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski gestures during the Spanish La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD in Barcelona, Spain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)

Barcelona host high-flying Villarreal on Saturday aiming to tighten their grip on pole position in La Liga amid concerns about the form of strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Coach Hansi Flick has rotated between the veteran Pole and the Spaniard this season to lead the attack, but neither has fully convinced.

Former Bayern Munich great Lewandowski, 37, has declined rapidly this season as well as enduring some fitness issues, while Torres, 25, is on course for a personal record for goals, but most of them came in a purple patch towards the end of last year.

The Catalan giants have obvious problems in defense, as opponents exploit their high line with growing regularity, but last season managed to score enough goals to outweigh their deficiencies in that area as they lifted a domestic treble.

Wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are among the best in the world in their positions but whichever option Flick places between them has struggled in 2026.

Torres has just three goals in his last 15 appearances across all competitions, and his all-round game is lacking, unable to contribute effectively as Barca build up attacks, frequently losing the ball.

Lewandowski has five goals in his last 18 games, but seems less mobile than before and a peripheral presence at times.

"With so many matches rotation at striker is natural, and I think Ferran and I can benefit from the current situation," Lewandowski told Polish magazine Pilka Nozna this week.

"When you play 90 minutes every three days your whole life is about recovery, now the balance is a little better. I'm tired but I'm not worn out."

Barca still lead La Liga for goals scored, with 67, but they are coming from everywhere -- 10 different players have scored two or more, and nobody has more than Torres on 12.

By contrast to Barca's center-forwards, Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, despite struggling with a long-running knee problem, leads the scoring charts in Spain with 23 and the Champions League with 13.

"Mbappe is the best striker in the world," admitted Flick in January. "He has scored many, many goals and is a world-class player."

Flick's side lead La Liga by a point ahead of Villarreal's visit. A point behind Madrid host Getafe on Monday.

The German coach has not used England international Marcus Rashford much in that position, with the Manchester United loanee more keen on operating from the left.

However with Raphinha fit and firing after an injury absence, Rashford might change his mind and view playing as a number nine as his best chance of more minutes.

Rashford has been effective for Barca this season, albeit as much in providing assists rather than scoring, laying on 13 goals for his team-mates while netting 10 himself in 34 games across all competitions.

With some rest while other sides take part in the Champions League play-off round, Flick hopes a relatively quiet fortnight will do his team a world of good.

"It's important that we have these two weeks, to rest a little bit but also focus on the next match against Villarreal, that will also be a tough match," said Flick.

"After that hopefully every three or four days we have a match, so it's important to have these two weeks."

Villarreal trail leaders Barca by 10 points, and although their hopes of competing for the title have dwindled, they could be rekindled with a surprise victory at Camp Nou.