Atletico Madrid qualified for the last 16 after all on the last matchday of the Champions League group stage. The reason for this was the efficiency of the Rojiblancos against Porto. In the end, there were unpleasant scenes.
Suarez goes down early – Porto stronger, Oblak in the way
The game was competitive from the start. Atletico invested more at first, but it was hardly dangerous on either side. Suarez – one of five new players in Diego Simeone’s team after the 1:2 defeat against Mallorca, along with Lemar, Hermoso, Vrsaljko and Carrasco – was forced off in tears and ex-Hertha player Matheus Cunha came on in his place.
Without the Uruguayan, the Colchoneros continued to develop little penetrating power. The only double chance for Atletico was saved by Porto keeper Diogo Costa against Lemar and Llorente (22nd). Porto, with ex-Real player Pepe and former Herthan player Grujic, got better and better into the game. The home side, coached by Sergio Conceicao, had their chances – the best of which Luis Diaz failed to beat Oblak (31st). On top of that, Lemar almost hit his own net (40th).
Atletico come from nowhere
With the restart, the picture remained the same: Porto looking for the way forward, Atletico defending. Carrasco even took it a bit lightly, but Taremi finished too inaccurately (47th) and failed to beat Oblak (52). As is so often the case in football, the hosts’ lack of chances was to take its revenge. The unlucky Taremi, of all people, extended a corner to the feet of Griezmann, who had no problems at all and scored from close range (56). Matheus Cunha almost scored the double, but Pepe was the last man to clear his lob off the line after a strong individual performance (59th).
Ten against ten: Carrasco sees red – Wendell as well
Fortan the Madrid team acted dominantly, but they decimated themselves because Carrasco struck after Otavio (67.). But that was not enough: Only a few minutes later, there was a second scuffle – and this time the former Leverkusen player Wendell, who had been substituted only shortly before, saw red in the end (70.). The reason was a contact of his hand with the neck of Matheus Cunha.
There was no flow of the game after the turbulent minutes, and Porto’s second keeper Marchesin even complained so loudly from the outside that he was also sent off, along with a home supporter.
Three goals from minute 90: Atletico put the lid on it
Atletico concentrated on their typical defensive work in the closing stages. Porto could no longer get through – it even came to a double strike of the Rojiblancos after counterattacks by the Argentine Correa (90th) and de Paul (90.+2). Porto had the last word, however, and their joker Sergio Oliviera scored the final goal with a penalty in the last action (90.+6). The Portuguese team will now have to play in the Europa League, while the Rojiblancos will advance to the round of 16.
Next up, Porto host Sporting Braga on Sunday (21.30). Atletico have the city derby at Real Madrid coming up (also Sunday, 9pm).
