Ademola Lookman netted the decisive strike as Atletico Madrid edged Girona 1-0 on Sunday, intensifying the visitors’ worries about relegation while underlining the impact of the Nigerian forward in what has been a standout debut spell for Diego Simeone’s side.
Lookman, signed by Atletico during the January transfer window, has now scored eight times and provided three assists in 22 outings across all competitions. The tally places him as the club’s fourth-highest scorer for his first season.
The goal against Girona at the Metropolitano was another milestone in his quick rise at Atletico. It followed his maiden appearance for the club, when he scored in the Copa del Rey against Real Betis. That early strike also represented the 100th goal of his career.
The assist for Sunday’s winner came from Antoine Griezmann, who marked his 500th appearance in Atletico colours in an atmosphere charged with emotion at the Metropolitano. The French forward, Atletico’s record scorer, is set to move on to Major League Soccer with Orlando City, arriving visibly affected and providing a memorable farewell contribution before making his final appearance in front of the home supporters.
With the defeat, Girona sit 18th and head into the last day with relegation looming.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid delivered a controlled performance to overcome Sevilla 1-0. Vinicius Junior scored the only goal after being set up by Kylian Mbappe.
The breakthrough came days after Mbappe said he had been told by coach Álvaro Arbeloa that he was the club’s “fourth forward”. Even so, the superstar started and played his role in securing the win. Real Madrid will still end the season without a major trophy for a second straight year, while Sevilla’s survival has already been confirmed by results elsewhere.
The key swing in the relegation race arrived at Mallorca, where Levante claimed a crucial 2-0 victory. The win lifted them into 15th and pushed the islanders down into 19th. Carlos Espi opened the scoring before both teams were reduced to 10 men after an ugly incident involving Johan Mojica and Roger Brugué. Kervin Arriaga then headed in a second from a corner to seal the points and hand Levante a lifeline.
Mallorca travel to already-relegated Oviedo on the final day, but survival will require a victory plus favorable outcomes elsewhere.
Elche, positioned 17th, kept their escape hopes alive with a 1-0 win against Getafe and will face Girona in what could be a decisive final-round match—an encounter between two teams desperate to avoid the drop.
Espanyol secured their place in the top flight by beating Osasuna 2-1, ending a remarkable run of 18 matches without a win. They followed that drought with back-to-back victories, while Alavés also assured their survival with a 1-0 win over already-relegated Oviedo.
Elsewhere, Valencia produced a dramatic 4-3 win over Real Sociedad to climb to ninth. Celta Vigo ensured European football next season after drawing 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao, and at home, Rayo Vallecano gave veteran midfielder Óscar Trejo a heartfelt send-off in his final appearance at the Estadio de Vallecas as they defeated third-placed Villarreal 2-0.
