Atletico de Madrid struggles in Champions League

The Atletico de Madrid started counting from the moment they left Azerbaijan with only a goalless draw. Because no one expected this script in the Champions League for the red and whites, even though they had a tough group. What has been achieved by Diego Simeone's team in recent years has made us forget that this competition is not easy, it has been proven that there is no small rival and every match is a final due to the slim margin for error that the competition allows. And in a team accustomed, like few others, to capitalizing on others' flaws, it is undoubtedly surprising to see the Atletico team not only receiving the same medicine, but, what is more serious, not knowing how to respond to this adverse situation with resources, ideas, or long-term solutions.

This season has not been easy for the Madrid club. The FIFA sanction, injuries (how we miss Koke!), getting used to a new stadium, the fact that rivals know you... Choose your own reason. What is clear is that, while Roma was getting ahead of Chelsea on the scoreboard (a match in which Diego Simeone's team was also playing), the Atletico team found itself facing a perfectly organized defensive wall (and criterio to play the ball out) and another mental block that was not Qarabag but the one that the team has had throughout the season, especially in this tournament. Few ideas, only sporadic bursts of talent against a team with players of lesser quality but with clearer ideas.

That is why Qarabag took control of the ball against an Atletico de Madrid that, despite having the clearest chances through Kevin Gameiro or Diego Godin, could not break the psychological wall of the first goal against a team that had held them to a draw two weeks ago. To make matters worse, neither Antoine Griezmann nor Angel Correa, currently the best attacking players this season, were accurate in their actions. If everything was already difficult, it became even more difficult because five minutes before halftime, Michel scored for the Azeris from a corner kick. It was not an accident, because Qarabag dominated and had other chances, and that was the most complicated part: Atletico de Madrid showed little sign that they were playing their most important match in years.

Thomas begins the siege

The prospects were therefore bad, very bad, not so much because of the result but because of what was seen on the field. In fact, the second half did not start with a home team siege, as expected, although Kevin Gameiro, who would later be booed, missed the clearest chance until then. Paradoxically, the equalizer would come in the most unexpected way with a great goal from Thomas Partey from outside the box. An unstoppable right shot into the top corner that lifted the crowd from their seats. And the good news continued because two minutes later Pedro Henrique was sent off after a scary tackle on Godin.

More than half an hour was left. Atletico de Madrid against ten men, needing only one goal. The task would not be difficult given other circumstances. But the red and white team this year is a bundle of nerves, a team with little efficiency and a spirit at its lowest. That is why the minutes passed, and despite the chances coming, whether from clear misses or great saves by Messi, the goal did not come and time was running out.

In fact, the final minutes were nerve-wracking, with Diego Godin playing as a forward, winning aerial balls that narrowly missed the goal. Like the miss from the Uruguayan alone against Sehic, or the opportunity he later gave to Griezmann who failed to score. Or the double chance for Nico Gaitan that didn't go in... In fact, if we look back to Roma, Atletico de Madrid have wasted many chances. Many minutes have been wasted to regret these last chances today, because the Atletico team has only scored two goals in 270 minutes in this Champions League, and they have dropped 5 points against a clearly inferior opponent. Now, after Roma's victory, we can only hope for a miracle: that Qarabag gives them a hand and Atletico de Madrid wins against Roma and Chelsea in London. Right now, with this Atletico de Madrid on the brink of elimination, we don't know which combination is more difficult...