Atlético is happy. The rojiblanco club has lived 24 hours of heart attack Since the Youth League match began at 15:30 yesterday until today the referee signaled the end of the Atleti B match in Campo del Alcorcón B. All this with the Simeone’s team ranking to the knockout stages of the Champions League, after defeating Porto 1-3 in a myriad of closed emotions, all of them with a happy ending.
The Juvenil was the first to jump into the green. He had to beat Porto in the Youth League to overtake him in the rankings and make sure he finished in the top two. And, despite the casualties and the torrential rain that shook the lawn of the Portuguese sports city, Ricardo Ortega and Fernando Torres’ team did their homework without ever giving up and with a block that knew how to suffer until the end. Javi Serrano and Ibraima were not there, concentrating with the first team, Carlos Martín had to be treated for a head injury and captain David Navarro left injured at half-time, thus losing the two usual centrals.
But nothing stopped the athletic youngsters, who despite the fact that they saw Abreu draw Kostis’ goal in the second half from a penalty, they had their man goal in Carlos Martín with the goal that put the 1-2 on the scoreboard and certified the second placeNot without the final shock that Iturbe had to repel in the 94th minute. Two victories in the last two days with which the mattress team managed to come back in the standings. It was the appetizer for what was to come. Simeone also arrived with casualties in the rear, Vrsaljko and Kondogbia worked as improvised centrals and the croatian suffered a broken face in the first half that did not remove him from the field.
Atlético held, was seen out with the goal of Milan together with the siege of Porto, but he knew how to keep his strength behind as in the best days with an outstanding Oblak and he took advantage of his moment. The team regained their composure on their exit in the second half and Griezmann broke the equalizer at the same time that Origi turned the game around at San Siro. The match became muddy, red, fouls, controversies … but Atlético showed its maturity and never lost its face to a fundamental duel. Correa, who had come off the bench, took advantage of Griezmann’s assistance and he defined with mastery in hand-to-hand to end his drought in the Champions League that lasted 48 games, since his debut in the competition and put a 0-2 that gave peace of mind.
And if there is a player who smells blood and who he is like nobody in that type of physical duels is De Paul. He chased a long delivery from Correa, stole the ball, put the pass back to Griezmann and if the Frenchman’s shot was repelled, he himself was in charge of rounding up the party. A penalty at the last minute prevented Oblak from leaving with a clean sheet, but Atlético met the goal, he saved a matchball as the youth had done hours before and the two teams returned from Porto with the feat achieved.
But there was still to round off the task. Atleti B faced Alcorcón B. The Tevenet team did not have Carlos Martín, a hero in Porto, and Fran González joined the bench practically without rest after traveling with the first team without having minutes. A penalty from Giuliano Simeone gave the rojiblancos victory, which remain in the first place and have already added 15 games without losing defeat (10 wins and five draws). A good day at Atlético de Madrid, which with a defibrillator in hand was able to experience three very important victories in three different categories.