Atlético, so angry that last year’s failure proved to be accidental, will enter the last 16 rounds of the Champions League as group leaders, displaying happy and contagious football this season under the leadership of Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman is the figurehead of a team that has four bullets in its gun to win a championship (League, Cup, Super Cup or Champions League). He’s got talent, he’s got a strong leg, he’s got bench depth and belief, he’s got a lot of belief.
Griezmann always shows up
Against Lazio, Simeone opted for a hybrid eleven of starters and merit, resting Morata, Riquelme or Koke. The draw was worth it, but three minutes later Samu Lino’s belief led him to chase a ball, which he then retrieved from memory and launched towards Griezmann’s home turf. on that side The ‘Little Prince’ appeared with a smile on his face as always and ‘hit’ the ball with his right foot like a golfer and sent it into the net.
Antoine’s 27th goal of 2023 and fifth in the current Champions League eased the initial effervescence. causing some worrying errors in the background. However, the Romans, who displayed a laziness unbecoming of an Italian team, never worried Oblak. Simeone moved his line of pressure into the opposition’s half to bite close to the Provedel area, thus simplifying the build-up job. Half an hour later Hermoso, once again showing unwavering belief, curled a cross towards goal but Lino stepped in front of the shot and blocked the goalkeeper, causing the goal to be unceremoniously disallowed.
In the second half, Simeone distributed the minutes to his soldiers. Giménez was replaced by Soyunçu and Memphis, while Griezmann and Atlético crouched down, ready for an ambush. However, in the first local approach, LIno put a ball into the net that no defender could finish clearing and now sealed the victory and the lead for the red-whites. Forty peaceful minutes remain in the stands to celebrate and celebrate the Champions League lead, which confirms the forward step of the Atlético 2023-24 team.
calm procedure
It’s a shame that the round of 16 won’t be played until February because Simeone’s team is having a sweet period of play and he has turned the Metropolitan into a fortress. This victory over the disappointing Lazio represents Atlético’s twentieth consecutive victory (17 in the League and three in the Champions League) and equals their best-ever winning streak at the Vicente Calderón, dating back to 2012 and 2013 . The last half hour was so inconsequential that by the 66th minute both coaches had exhausted all substitutions. The red and whites entered the basket to spoil the victory. Memphis Depay fouled Provelet, but Atlético wasn’t too worried about a Lazio who never jeopardized the red-white lead.
Cholo’s team is one of the teams that scored the most goals (17) and among the teams that scored the fewest points (6) in the group stage. Those who do not want the kolista stamp of a brave and tough group in defense, but The unwavering belief that turned Morata into a swan, Lino into a dagger and Nahuel Molina, who always plays with long sets.. Atletico won, crowned the group leader with Griezmann’s goal, and now they are waiting for an opponent. “It’s good news that no one is facing Atlético,” Simeone had boasted in previous years. Copenhagen, PSV, Napoli, Inter, PSG, Porto or Leipzig will receive bad news on Monday.