MADRID, 13 Apr. (SportsFinding) –
Since Diego Pablo Simeone took charge of the Atlético de Madrid bench in December 2011, the colchoneros have not known defeat at home in both the Vicente Calderón and the Wanda Metropolitano in Champions League qualifiers. Up to eleven teams -Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea, Leverkusen, Real Madrid, PSV, Bayern, Leicester, Juventus, Liverpool and Manchester United- have not been able to beat the rojiblancos, who become a tough nut to crack as host.
Today they will have to come back against Manchester City after 1-0 in the first leg, again a result against in the first leg, although it has always been synonymous with victory in the second leg, with three defeats in the first leg as a visitor and three wins as local. Thus, we review other great nights that Atlético del ‘Cholo’ has experienced in the Champions League in recent years.
1. Athletic 1-0 FC Barcelona. 2014.
In the first leg of the Camp Nou both teams tied (1-1) leaving everything open for the second leg at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. First great European evening of the ‘super Atleti’ of ‘Cholo’. The courage, dedication and ambition of the rojiblancos infected the mattress parish on a night in which they knocked down a very poor Barça. Koke’s goal was worth it, in a match in which Atlético dismantled Barcelona to be in the Champions League semifinals 40 years later, backed by a Calderón that vibrated with the Champions League.
2. Athletic 2-0 FC Barcelona. 2016.
Once again Atleti and Barça crossed paths. The latter wanted revenge and had a threatening trident -Neymar, Suárez and Messi-, and in the first leg of the quarterfinals of 15-16 they won 2-1 at the Camp Nou. But the rojiblancos were not daunted and once again showed that as a local in Europe they are a nightmare for their rivals. Griezmann’s double to put the 2-0 that gave the pass, once again, to Atlético. Another great event for the Vicente Calderón, with a team-fan communion that, as in 2014, was key to seeing Atlético fight for the title in the final.
3. Atlético 1-0 Bayern Munich. 2016
After the euphoria of the quarterfinals, the almighty Bayern led by Guardiola, who came into that season after being eliminated in the semifinals against Real Madrid and Barça in the previous two, arrived at the rojiblanco fiefdom. But the German roller did not work in the Calderón either. The ‘rojiblancos’ came out in droves with a clear objective, blurring the Germans and getting a tie in the first leg in Madrid on track thanks to a solitary and ‘Maradonian’ goal from Saúl Ñíguez. That goal served to be in a final again, after defending his advantage tooth and nail in the second leg in Germany, in which it was a tactical battle won by Simeone.
4. Athletic 2-0 Juventus. 2019.
Everything seemed to indicate that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus would come away with something positive from their visit to the Metropolitano in the round of 16 of the 18-19 season, but it was quite the opposite. Two blows from Godín and Giménez from set pieces allowed him to achieve a valuable lead (2-0) ahead of the second leg. The first great European night of the new rojiblanco stadium, which did not serve to advance on their European path, since the Vecchia Signora, with Ronaldo’s ‘hat-trick’, came from behind.
5. Athletic 1-0 Liverpool. 2020
In the round of 16 of the 2019-2020 Champions League, Liverpool, champion of the competition in the previous edition, ran into the path of Atlético. In the first leg at the Wanda, the rojiblancos imposed their law and were able to defend Saúl’s early goal against the dizzying attacks of the ‘reds’. Again giving the stature, and in what way, before one of the favorites. A task that culminated in Anfield, where they knew how to resist the infernal pace with which the English submitted Atleti. But an excellent Llorente with a double allowed the rojiblancos to advance (2-3).