Third half-time exit in four games, one goal in nine appearances, and the Tanzania double-header in November ahead.
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was taken off at half-time again on Saturday, 24 October, as Atlético Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruña 1-0. This is the third occasion in four matches on which he has been substituted at half-time.
The sole goal came from Argentine striker Julián Álvarez in the 48th minute, following Robin Le Normand's introduction in place of Lookman at the interval. ESPN reported it was Álvarez's first LaLiga goal in eight months, and the win took Atlético within two points of leaders Barcelona. Lookman had no shot and created no chance, Pulse Sports Nigeria reported, and he made an error that gave Deportivo an effort on goal. WhoScored data cited by Legit.ng shows the same: no shot and no clear scoring chance in his 45 minutes.
Jesus Colino, a club insider writing for AS, wrote: "He was the Atletico player who touched the ball the least, and in Deportivo's half, all but one of his passes were backwards." He added: "He didn't attempt a single dribble either. Substituted at halftime. His form continues to decline."
Atlético coach Diego Simeone pointed to workload after the Espanyol game, and Pulse Sports Nigeria quoted him on it:
"We were looking to manage the minutes, the effort; we needed legs."
Days later, Simeone made further comments that Legit.ng reported. "We need everyone. That's clear, I'll say it again," he said. He also said: "We need fresh legs."
Lookman has completed 90 minutes only once this season, in the opening-day game against Málaga, according to Transfermarkt figures cited by Legit.ng. Pulse Sports Nigeria reported that, up to mid-October, Lookman had scored once from nine outings, logged around 600 minutes and started eight of those matches.
Soccernet's analysis is that Simeone's explanation, about managing legs across league and European games, may well be the whole story. Lookman's numbers still give the other reading some weight: one goal in nine appearances, a first half with no shot, and a half-time exit in three of four games. Should form play a role, the workload explanation accounts for just a portion of the situation.
In Europe the picture looks different. Legit.ng noted that Lookman scored against Manchester United in the Champions League and had an assist in Atlético's 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart.
The stakes for Nigeria are practical. Lookman did not score in the qualifiers against Madagascar or Guinea-Bissau, and Soccernet notes that the Tanzania double-header in November is central to Nigeria's AFCON 2027 hopes.
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