As they won yesterday, among last night’s Champions League football games, Atletico Madrid snatched a place in the last 16. Atletico Madrid superbly won 3-1 at FC Porto on Tuesday in a tense and ill-tempered game.
Curiously, interestingly, both sides finished this football match with 10 men.
Antoine Griezmann put Atletico in front against the run of play in the 56th minute. The Barcelona returnee tipped the ball into the net following a smart corner.
Atletico’s lead was in jeopardy when Yannick Carrasco quit the pitch. In the 67th minute, he raised his hands to Otavio as tempers raged following a foul.
Porto’s numerical advantage also lasted only a few moments as Wendell and Agustin Marchesin were both out within five minutes.
Finally, substitute Angel Correa clinched the win for Atletico with a cool finish on the counter-attack in the 90th minute.
Meanwhile, Porto then earned a consolation penalty which Sergio Oliveira converted with the final kick of the game.
So, while Diego Simeone’s Atleti side began the game bottom of Group B, they ended it second on seven points.
On the other hand, Porto came in third with five points and thus qualified for the Europa League.
Watch the football highlights for this Group B game last night.
Champions League Football Games – Atletico Madrid Snatched a Place
Things got off to an ominous start when striker Luis Suarez had to quit playing due to a 13th-minute injury.
Still, bracingly, Atleti created their first real chance when Carrasco carved his way through the defence. But Marcos Llorente fired his ricocheted cross against the feet of goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Porto dominated the rest of the first half. Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak even made an outstanding save to deny Luis Diaz’s shot.
Also, Llorente had to dive across the goalpost to prevent Mehdi Taremi from reaching the loose ball.
Taremi missed two clear chances early in the second half. But one shot went blazing over the bar and Oblak blocked the other with his feet.
Finally, Griezmann gave Atleti an unlikely lead with a scrappy goal.
And Porto barely recovered from the shock of going behind when Atletico Madrid pulled further forward.
Marchesin was sent off from the stands as both sides struggled to control their tempers.
