Cloud: Stop by Luis Díaz to prevent Porto from going ahead in the first half in a cross shot whose clearance was very fast by Llorente to repel it. In the second he had to reappear with one foot avoiding Taremi’s cross shot. Very safe, stopping every ball hanging in the area and every long shot. A shame that penalty in the last second, since it deserved to go with the door to zero.
Vrsaljko: Holder as a right central in the line of three before the multiple casualties of the team in the rear. He fell to the right profile to cover the climbs of Llorente and his performance must be valued very positively. Although, as is normal, it was noted that he is not used to playing in that position, suffering in the aerial balls and without profiling well on occasion against Luis Díaz, he took one of his first official matches in that position with a note. His tears show the effort of the Croatian.
Kondogbia: He also had to act as an emergency center. Porto was going up and the rear of Atlético suffered before the arrival of the Portuguese team players from the second row in a rush. Providential last man court when Taremi was already leaving hand in hand. Strong in the passing game and smart at the start, like Vrsaljko we must congratulate him for solving the “brown”.
Handsome: The only defender used to playing in that position. The left profile in the line of three, had Kondogbia and Vrsaljko as partners, trying to open up so that Carrasco could go up lines and look for some interior shipment to break lines. When he goes out of place sometimes he goes past, it is difficult for him to measure the entrance having to do lack or give up throw-ins.
Llorente: Right lane, but with a clear offensive vocation. Without neglecting his defensive work, he joined the attack by doubling the side and stepping on the area, where Costa’s foot avoided his goal after an individual play by Carrasco and Lemar’s first shot. Very strong in wing duels with Luis Diaz, Porto’s most dangerous player. It is his turn at this time of the season, to be little used in that position, but trying to help the team in everything.
Carrasco: Left lane with a lot of back and forth to help Hermoso back. He may soon be able to do it and he was not smart when it came to brace with Otávio, who had taken the ball from him with a slap, an action that cost him the red. That soon loses the Belgian. In the first half he drove the defense crazy in a play in which he left three and made it perfect for Lemar, who ran into Costa’s foot.
Boil: Overtaken in the first half alongside De Paul on the double pivot. The Porto players were more in number, intensity, steal ability and ball output. Atlético went backwards for survival, giving up all control to the Portuguese team from minute 20 and always arriving late to try to recover. The team has a huge problem in that area of the field, where the captain’s drop in level has led to a habitual inferiority in the middle. In the second half it grew, more appeared, covering holes, helping the left profile and reducing waters. Commendable physical display.
From Paul: Like Koke, the Argentine was overwhelmed in the first half. He was late for the pressure, there was always a rival only in the vicinity, when he received there was a rival squeezing that did not let him think or get the ball played … a nightmare from the beginning. But, in the final minutes he is a wild card for his extraordinary physique. He does not mind going down to the mud, having to struggle, the guerrilla game and he grew in the game until he had the prize of the goal that finished off his great final of the game, he had faith in a pass from Correa, pressed, stole, yielded to Griezmann and he already did it by marking the rejection.
Lemar: Situated in the right profile, he started the game active and with the clear idea of doing damage by receiving and looking to get inside, leaving the lane for Llorente to turn. He had the goal after a cross from Carrasco, but after winning the near post he crashed with Costa’s foot. From that time on, Porto grew in the game and Atlético got smaller and suffered a lot to take over the ball. And when the game got tough, Lemar was outmatched in intensity, having a lot of trouble winning split balls.
Griezmann: It is decisive facing the door, and that is worth a world. Although it is still difficult for him to get hold of the ball between the lines, he left with a goal and an assist and being key as in the old days. In the first half he was disappearing into the game after some interesting first minutes and he could barely receive and be a driver of the team’s game as he always did before leaving for Barcelona. In the second half he was being more active, looking for the weak zone to get more into play and at the exit of a corner he was ready to take advantage of the comb at the far post and score the goal that broke the equalizer. Commendable work when he had to act as a lane, he returned to the top to give the team a break, stretch the team and put the ball into the hole for Correa for the second rojiblanco goal. He was able to leave with a double, but a clearance from the defender ended up returning De Paul for the third. Very important in the victory and in Atlético’s pass, with four of the team’s seven goals in the Champions League.
Suarez: Desolate and in tears, the Uruguayan left when only 13 minutes of the game had passed. Atlético were left without their striker and top scorer for the fundamental game in the Champions League and probably for what comes before the end of the year, with Real Madrid and Seville just around the corner. In his few minutes on the pitch, he tried to pivot and throw off the mark to stretch the team.
The changes this time were golden
Cunha: Suarez’s injury brought him in abruptly in the 13th minute. Porto took possession of the ball and had to play very far from the area, without the option of catching any ball before Pepe’s impressive aerial game. In the second half they opened a gap and showed their power in the race starting, beating the two centrals and stinging the ball, but Pepe took it out on the line. A play to the purest Diego Costa 2013-14. He grew in the game, giving the team an exit as a pivot up, stretching the exit, looking for the best placed teammate and providing a fundamental respite. He surprised his change in the 82nd minute, as he was doing the team good.
Correa: His entry was to strengthen the right wing ahead of Llorente, since Lemar was suffering in intensity. And he gave peace of mind by marking the second against, putting temper, pause and defining crossed at the right moment. Always tireless, Simeone knows that he can count on his ’10’ no matter how the game is. he also participated in the third goal.
Lodi: He replaced Cunha to reinforce the left lane that Carrasco had orphaned with his expulsion and sent Griezmann to the attack point. The Brazilian joined his band, trying to give fresh air to the team and not get so far behind. good input.