Simeone took what is possibly his gala eleven, counting that Giménez cannot be on the field due to injury. The rear with three centrals, Trippier and Carrasco in the lanes and Koke, Saúl and Llorente in the middle to try to get the ball to João Félix and Luis Suárez, something that they practically never achieved. The team started suffering a lot, against a purely offensive Salzburg and very involved in the game.
Hermoso's goal through strategy put some calm, although the Austrians had multiple options to make their goal. Salzburg pressed again at the beginning of the second half and only lacked the goal to further complicate the pass to Atlético. The entry of Correa by Suárez improved the team and the Argentine made a magnificent delivery for Carrasco's sentence. Deserved classification to the eighth of the Champions League, although suffering more than shown by the scoreboard.
Oblak: After three minutes he saw how Berisha finished off the post. Shortly after he had to lay down a good hand to avoid Koita's attempt. Arrivals were reduced at the end of the first half, but Salzburg returned to their constant attempts at the beginning of the second, with a very clear chance from Szoboszlai who finished off when he came face to face with the Slovenian. Mwepu would also crash with the stick. On this occasion he left a clean sheet when Salzburg constantly sought the goal, something that contrasts with previous Champions League matches where he had suffered too much punishment.
Savic: He saw the yellow in a providential action where he crossed clearly touching the ball. An incomprehensible warning, especially considering what the Austrian team had hit with impunity. Like all the defense, he suffered a lot against Salzburg, although the Montenegrin never lost his seriousness. Without getting complicated with the ball, he was very attentive to the deliveries on his side and was almost always able to prevail.
Felipe: He is still not close to the great level shown last season. It seems that physically he is not so fast to fill the gaps and it is more difficult for him to arrive with an advantage in the fight with the forwards. Above if he maintains his physical strength and is a fronton when rivals try to enter with lateral centers. It grew as the minutes passed and left a good end of the game.
Beautiful: His great moment at Atlético had a prize in the form of a goal. He finished off Carrasco's great center with his shoulder, but it went inside, a reward in the area contrary to his great adaptation to this position as third center-back. Salzburg sought his back with balls into space for the speed of his points. Fundamental in the departure of the Atleti ball from behind with his good foot. Inside to look inside for Koke or João Félix or looking at the other band towards Trippier.
Trippier: He is going through a great moment of form and had a fundamental cut to prevent Salzburg from taking the lead in a counter started after the loss of Koke. He offered himself on his side to give oxygen to the team, which sought him out with game changes from the left when he looked tighter. Several interceptions ahead of the opponent very important.
Carrasco: He was not managing to receive with space or enter the game regularly, but from set pieces he put a spectacular delivery for Hermoso's goal. In the last moments, he would sentence Correa's center to the far post with an excellent definition. He is a lane with a clear offensive side and if he has to spend so much time defending he suffers. He could not run into space as on other occasions because Atlético had a very short time on the ball, without allowing him to reach the final meters until the play of his goal. A dull match, but closed with a goal and assistance.
Carrasco centers during the match against Salzburg.
Adam Pretty (Getty Images)
Saul: Completely surpassed in the first 25 minutes, his reaction was very important to start to stand up in the center of the field. A reaction that went through increasing the intensity and pressing more on the Austrians, recovering many balls. With the ball he is asked one more step, although it is difficult for him to have to enter the game in the machinery area and appear less close to the front of the rival area. He left replaced in the 64th minute seeking that with Herrera Atleti could appropriate the ball.
Koke: He started the game without being able to enter the game with the ball and suffering from the local aggressiveness. He had a very dangerous loss in attack when Salzburg was able to start a counter with many meters that ended up deactivating Trippier. When he was taming the ball, he gave the team a necessary pause. Good on the game changes to English to slow down the momentum in pressure from Salzburg. A very uncomfortable game for the captain.
Llorente: When Salzburg had already accumulated multiple dangerous arrivals, they had the first chance for Atlético with a left-footed shot that went close to the post. A lot of physical work, although this time he did not manage to be so protagonist with his movements to the hole. It happened like Carrasco, since the rojiblancas possessions were very short and they did not give him time to throw his usual unchecks. He put on his overalls.
João Félix: Salzburg were clear that they wanted to stop the Portuguese civilly or criminally after his first leg exhibition. A lot of toughness every time he received the ball, but he was never daunted by the kicks. From one of them came the foul that ended in Hermoso's goal. He was able to protect a ball from his back to give the team a start.
Suarez: He has returned after overcoming the coronavirus directly to eleven in the two games, but the inactivity is very noticeable for more than two weeks off. The Salzburg centrals were pure intensity and the Uruguayan got few balls, without being able to win practically none from behind. In space he can not throw the unchecks for speed, since he has everything to lose. Playing so far from the box it is difficult for him to stand out if he is not in his best form to pivot on his back.
Changes to try to get the ball
Herrera: Before his injury he had become extremely important in the double pivot. His mission was to give the team a little more possession, although it was difficult for him. When Salzburg lowered their intensity a bit, they were able to enter the game steadily and stop possible setbacks from the pivot. Along with Lodi he was warned and was not warned.
Belt: He entered through Suárez to try to push up and give Atlético a more pointed march. He managed to give more war to the rival centrals, causing some failure and forcing throw-ins. Gold assist for Carrasco, with a very precise center from the right wing for the Belgian's shot coming from the other side.
Lemar: He entered for João Félix after Carrasco sentenced the duel. The Frenchman could not show his growth because he barely had the discount.
Torreira: Together with Lemar he was the entry in the last moments to stop the game and give a physical point to the middle.
I gave it: Change in the last moments to pause the game. He did not see the yellow, so he may be in the knockout stages of the Champions League.