Atlético attacks Paris after a survival exercise

The victory achieved by Atlético in the Parc des Princes against a PSG much superior in everything except the most important thing, forcefulness in the areas, was as valuable as it was unfair. Depleted as it was, especially at the back due to the absences of Le Normand, Giménez, Llorente and Azpilicueta, Cholo’s team held on to Oblak and, when the tie was almost a miracle and the rival attacked desperately, the play came. last in which Griezmann assisted Correa and the Argentine scored with his left foot after a great cut-back. First duel between both teams and Simeone’s resounding victory against Luis Enrique, who ended up looking sad, unable to understand what had happened.

In reality, only the lack of punch from a much superior PSG and Oblak’s interventions prevented Atlético from reaping its third consecutive defeat in the Champions League in the French capital for the second time in the Simeone era. The red and whites survived under the protection of their goalkeeper, got the most out of their only two arrivals and maintain every chance of overcoming the first sieve because now they face an a priori more favorable calendar with Sparta Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Leverkusen and Salzburg on the horizon.

Luis Enrique’s team deserved much more, notable in organization, pressure, touch and arrivals from the flanks, but unable to close the game. In attack they wasted multiple save options and in defense they conceded the tie, the work of Nahuel Molina, shortly after Zaire-Emery took advantage of a monumental error by Lenglet to put the hosts ahead. A very complicated situation for PSG, which has four points, two less than Atlético, but ahead of it it has Bayern Munich, Salzburg, Manchester City and Stuttgart.

Atlético could not have started the night with a worse feeling, at the mercy of a more intense, faster, ambitious and technically powerful enemy. There were doubts about Cholo’s eleven, which surprised with a classic 4-4-2, since Giuliano did not act as a winger but as a midfielder, with his countryman Nahuel behind.

The Parisians, with Asensio as a false striker and Fabián on the bench, enjoyed a highway on their right wing. Galán suffered an ordeal against the destabilizing Dembélé and did not find good help from Gallagher either, who started the season like a shot but has declined. When the Mosquito drew a diagonal towards the center, Acharf entered to the baseline like Pedro at home.

The scares in the Oblak area continued. Thank goodness for the colchoneros that Hakimi crossed it excessively after a failed clearance by Gallagher, Dembélé was filled with the ball after a drop from the ex-Madridista full-back and then it was Asensio who failed to head a cross from the Moroccan.

The dominance of the Gauls was absolute, with 76% possession in the first quarter of an hour. Atlético tried to defend, but they were transparent. And when it came time to go out, he lost the ball very easily. A gift from Barrios to Dembélé ended with a shot from Barcola that was stopped by Oblak. The one who no longer forgave was Zaire-Emery after the active Dembélé stole the wallet from a sleepy Lenglet.

Dembélé, a permanent threat

The fight seemed to end in a rout, like in Lisbon, but Atlético had the success to equalize in their first and only arrival of the first act and only four minutes after conceding. Giuliano scored, one of the few things that the Madrid team could salvage even if it were only because of their hard work, and Nahuel found himself on the back foot to beat Donnarumma with a powerful left foot. Started again, although it is true that the duel was somewhat more balanced until the break. PSG dominated but without generating so much danger against an Atlético that recomposed its figure.

The French champion returned to the fray after the break, again striking mainly through Dembélé. Again, high pressure and enormous problems to get out of Atlético’s cave. Another absurd loss by Lenglet could have ended in a goal by Ousmane and Oblak had to show off after Barcola’s first great appearance.

Cholo’s triple change. Inside Reinildo, Koke and Riquelme, outside Galán, De Paul and Giuliano. Oblak once again avoided Barcola’s goal, but Atlético grew slightly. Luis Enrique also moved chips, who sought more bite with Kang-In Lee, Fabián and shortly after Kolo Muani. It is difficult to understand that just when Atlético was at its best, its coach retired Julián Álvarez. Correa was left alone at the top and PSG began its final push. Oblak held the colchoneros and in the last play, the Slovenian goalkeeper himself with his quick serve, Griezmann and Correa created an unimaginable victory seeing the development of the game.