Atletico and Porto have saved the best for last. After a closed game, three more goals were scored in added time. Antoine Griezmann gave the home side the win in the 11th minute of added time.
Atletico Madrid – Porto in a nutshell:
- Key moment: A match that seemed to end in a saltless draw blossomed completely in the final phase. The absolute highlight was Griezmann’s winning goal in minute 101.
- Man of the match: Axel Witsel once again played centrally in the back and was hardly caught on a mistake. The Red Devil provided stability and topped off his solid match with an assist for Griezmann’s winning goal.
- Statistics: Atletico Madrid have already failed to win 8 home games in a row in Europe. A club record. That annoying statistic can be put away after tonight.
Closed game with little target danger
In the same group as Club Brugge, Atletico Madrid and Porto looked each other in the eye tonight.
The teams also played against each other in the group stage of the Champions League last year, when the match in Madrid ended in a 0-0 draw.
For a long time it looked as if that would also be the verdict tonight. Both teams got off to a slow start and assumed their counter qualities.
Axel Witsel (in defence) and Yannick Carrasco were in the starting line-up for the home team. The latter was unable to convince trainer Simeone and was allowed to remain in the dressing room after the break.
In the second half, too, the search for real danger on goal. Koke’s redeeming opening goal seemed to break the match open, but was flagged for offside.
Porto ended up with 10 men ten minutes before the end after a second yellow card for a schwalbe, but that also did not seem nearly enough to completely turn the game around.
3 goals in crazy final phase
But at the start of added time we suddenly got not 1, not 2, but 3 goals.
The home team opened the debates thanks to a messy goal from Hermoso. His shot deflected on two defenders and flew over the goalkeeper into the goal.
Porto clawed back again after the same Hermoso touched the ball by hand in the box a few minutes later. The ball went on the dot and Uribe seemed to fix the final score.
But in the absolute final phase (90 + 11), Atletico was still about Porto. A corner kick by the home team was headed by Witsel. Antoine Griezmann thanked and worked the ball into the goal from close range. Madrid shook to its foundations.
In group B, Atletico shares the lead with Club Brugge. Porto will be allowed a second chance at home next week against Carl Hoefkens’ team.
