Ugly and beautiful, they meet on common ground when goals are on the line. Atlético Madrid faced a tense path as they aimed to seal progression with a single point needed on the final matchday to top the group. The drama included a fortunate own goal from Geertruida, who inadvertently redirected a cross into his own net while trying to defend, and a later moment of misfortune that allowed Santiago Giménez to confirm the visitors’ win with a touch of friendly fire. In the midst of this chaos, speculation swirled about Mario Hermoso and whether his involvement would keep Simeone’s side in the hunt for success.
In Rotterdam, the narrative was simple: win or risk being edged out. The latest developments left Feyenoord with three points that could keep their hopes alive, while Atlético presented a rock-solid attitude in recent seasons, preferring to tidy up the group stage early rather than leave it to the last moment. The hour before kickoff echoed a clash from weeks earlier at the Metropolitano: Feyenoord showed real capability, yet a lack of decisive punch prevented a favorable result against a disciplined Atlético side that had them on the ropes at times.
Minutes into the match, Griezmann returned to action as the game settled. The French forward needed little time to make his mark, and Morata found himself in a one-on-one after a deft rebound. Bijlow stood tall, denying the Spaniard and sparking a period of pressure that would soon tilt the balance. The initial momentum hinted at a breakthrough when Cortina looked on, but the moment passed with a costly miss.
Then the turning point arrived. Llorente delivered a probing pass into the box, and fate did the rest. Geertruida attempted to clear but instead redirected the ball into his own net, handing Atlético the lead. The goal energized Simeone’s team as they asserted control, easing the tension of Feyenoord’s early push and conversion into a more measured contest. Koke and De Paul joined Griezmann, gradually stifling the Dutch side and narrowing their chances in the first half.
pleasant surprises
What followed was a moment captured by social feeds and echoed in stadiums: a playful nod to the drama of the night. A clip circulated highlighting the excitement and the theatre of European football, a reminder of the unpredictability that makes the Champions League so compelling.
Griezmann issued a warning early in the second half, a shot that mirrored a successful moment against Athletic Club the previous weekend when Hermoso produced a cross that struck the post. Yet the defender himself provided the least expected spark, cushioning a shot through traffic to extend Atlético’s lead. A clever sequence involving Pablo Barrios, who had just come on for Llorente, unlocked a gap in the Dutch defense. The ball slipped through to the onrushing defender, who finished with a delicate Vaseline finish beyond Bijlow for a second goal.
As the clock ticked toward the 77th minute, Feyenoord found renewed hope. Nahuel’s side failed to clear a corner, and Wieffer exploited the moment with a precise header, pulling the Dutch side back into contention. Suddenly the game breathed again, and Atlético needed to stay sharp. Giménez found space on a set piece, and an unfortunate deflection allowed the visitors to trim the deficit once more, reawakening the Dutch challenge in the dying minutes.
This victory marked a milestone for Simeone in European competition. It was the coach’s century in charge of Atlético Madrid across all competitions, a rare achievement shared only by a select few. The win also hinted at a renaissance in Atlético’s European travel, a departure from the difficult sequences of previous campaigns. Since a celebrated win at Old Trafford in February 2022, Atlético had endured a rough road on the road trips across Europe, with defeats to Manchester City and other heavyweights staining past visits. In this season’s group stage, Lazio and Celtic had been exorcised from old ghosts, and the Netherlands was the latest chapter in a journey that withstood pressure, misfortune, and a touch of luck to reach a rewarding conclusion.