Champions League is back, as Liverpool returns to Wanda Metropolitano, the same stadium that brought them the 6th European Cup. The setting will provide some with good memories, but it’s also a place that would test LFC cup ambitions like no other arena could.
I wasn’t happy to get Atletico so early, they are a solid team no matter what. Bad form, injuries, rebuilding team – it all doesn’t matter as much, when the action on the pitch is bottled up to 180 minutes. They can get through and continue to be average in the league, we saw that before. Diego Simeone, always in black colors, is the type of manager that can always turn the heater in the lockers, and motivate his players to play hard.
And well, the start wasn’t ideal. Ball bounces off Fabinho, and Saul picks the corner for an early lead. Perhaps a dream start for Alteli, who then predictably sit back after scoring and give the ball away, looking for counter attacks.
Lemar, who I heard is not a regular first team player, is clearly designed to burn the ground behind Trent, who wonders forward quite a lot. In the first half, the right flank was covered up by Hendo quite a bit, more than the usual, when in possession too. Crosses didn’t go where they needed to go, and we started shooting from long range to lure the home side out. No luck, although I liked Robbo’s shot.
He’s on the card, which means he is risking a second leg appearance. I write this part in half time, so hopefully the game ends well for our left hand side (well, at least he is not disqualified). Sadio picked up a card, and got a bit aggressive in the end. Of course Vrsaljko, the best right back in FM 12 was a bit extra with his reaction, but would you expect anything else from a Spanish side? One of the main reasons I don’t like La Liga – too many actors rolling around the pitch and nagging the ref’s to play with cards.
We had two chances in the first half. Firstly a usually solid goalie Oblak blundered his kick, with Salah intercepting the ball and giving it to Bobby, who was offside. A goal disallowed, no arguments. Then Sadio and Firmino get their magic mojo on, creating a very decent shot for Mo out of thin air. God strike, but Atletico defender is in the way, blocking the shot from going into top bins.
Mo had a normal half, and I want to underline how good he became in his hold up play over the years. Second half is on! Sadio is put on the bench, as we await a goal from Origi. Not really a surprise, as he had an injury not so long ago, plus his competitiveness would warrant a second yellow.
Divock is not that nimble to operate in tight spaces, but he has a goal in him nonetheless. 60 minutes gone, still no shots on target, much more possession that results in Trent switching his play over and over again.
Need to come up with plan B, I suppose. This 4-4-2 rigid formation is a tough not to crack, and we’re lacking man power in the middle.
On the Atletico side, Lemar goes off at half time, Simeone doesn’t mess around with this guy. He subs Morata too, after he flubs a good chance. Pretty average forward, if you ask me, high maintenance for sure. Plus his play is not suited to counters, so Vitolo enters.
Next we see an answer from Klopp, who brings Salah off for Ox. I understand this move, we need a crazy moment, long shot and a burst of pace Alex can bring to the table, but sadly, it never comes. But… Divock shifts to the center and the best chance of the second half goes missing, unlucky for Hendo, who’s also in need of a break.
Millie on, straight off gets a captain’s armband and I wish for some penalty case. Meanwhile Correa goes off for shithouse master Diego Costa. Simeone fires up the crowd, who seem to be enjoying themselves a lot. Costa shoots badly from a distance, and that’s pretty much it.
A suffocating match, where we couldn’t explore the space behind the defenders, didn’t have a creative and decisive force in the center. It all boiled down to Trent, and that’s not a viable first, second and third option. No late goals, no drama. It’s a dull 1-0 win for Madrid, and they are patting each other on the back for a job well done.
Honestly, a snoozefest for a neutral, and a frustrating watch for any LFC fan. The match with Norwich was tough, and here we didn’t do as much as we needed to. We will see what comes in the second leg at Anfield, where the magic happens. By that point we would probably wrap up the league, knock-knock, and could concentrate on putting goals in the back of the net.
Eh, matches like that can happen. Calls didn’t favor us, and luck wasn’t on our side. Props to Madrid for executing their plan, albeit not a very elaborate one. Waiting for the next bout now, only up from here.
In the other CL match of the night, Haaland puts two past PSG at home. Will watch the highlights, but man, what a beast that blondie is. He can get the top goalscorer trophy without advancing too far! But all of that doesn’t matter. The trophy belongs to Liverpool, and next time we will show Ateltico why Anfield is the place where amazing things happen.
Let’s try our best to keep the title, nothing is decided yet. One month to get our form back!
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