Live at the Estadio De Dragao in Porto, Portugal. By Samuel Kavakli
3′ There is an early corner for Atletico Madrid as Llorente’s cross is deflected by Marcano. Griezmann takes the corner but the ball is sent comfortably into the keeper’s hands.
5′ And it’s 1-0 to the home side! Mehdi Taremi is found with a load of space inside the box. Serious questions need to be asked of Atleti’s defence as Taremi simply passes the ball into the net. Porto are at the moment group winners and it looks like Atleti won’t even make Europa League!
Embed from Getty Images12′ Pepe is bought down after a challenge. He looks a bit hard done by but we think he’ll be ok.
13′ Porto continue to cruise through Atletico Madrid’s defence with Galeno playing in a major chance after a through ball from goal-scorer Taremi, taking out three defenders. The ball is aimed to the bottom right corner but it’s deflected by the legs of Jan Oblak.
16′ Mehdi Taremi and Axel Witsel battle for a header that sees a foul conceded by the goal scorer after an elbow in the process. It’s a free-kick to Atletico Madrid.
19′ Atletico finally began to have some possession and are on the attack but the ball doesn’t reach Joao Felix and is lead to a goal kick. Could Atleti find a way back into the game after this stint of aggression?
24′ And it’s 2-0! What dreadful defending by Atletico Madrid as they show no structure or organisation. Galeno has a fantastic run down the right hand side and crosses it into the box where the ball finds Stephen Eustaquio who slots the ball into the bottom right corner. Atleti’s Savic and Reinildo Mandava and Stefan Savic should have done better as they look to be crashing out of European football completely.
Embed from Getty Images28′ Porto are on the attack yet again as they win a corner after a throw in leads Atleti to smash the ball out of play.
31′ The losing side have their best chance of the game so far with a tame shot from De Paul being sent into Diogo Costa’s hands. Atleti did manage to get two goals back on Saturday against Cadiz after being 2-0 down, so could they do the same again?
36′ Porto are hungry for their third goal of the night as they continue to cruise on with the attack. A long ball to Tahremi sees him make a delicate pass through the defenders as the ball finds Otavio. Despite his shot having plenty of power, Oblak manages to get a touch of the ball to stop it from going in.
39′ Marko Grujic receives a yellow card as he catches Correa on the face.
42′ It’s Reinildo Mandava’s turn to get booked after committing a foul on Otavio. Brilliant refereeing as he allows advantage play to continue so that he can deal with the incident later on.
45′ And it’s half-time as group leaders Porto lead Atleti by two goals to zero. The Spanish side don’t look at all threatening in the attack and look very disorganised in defence as they currently sit bottom of the group thanks to goal difference and could be on the way to no more European football by the end of the night. In the other game, Club Bruges currently hold Bayer Leverkusen to a 0-0 draw which means that Leverkusen are on their way to the Europa League. Credit to Club Bruges as I’m sure no one expected them to reach the knockout stages with the likes of the opposition they have had to face.
48′ Atleti have the first chance of the second half as wing-back Saul Niguez is found at the back post from a cross but the Porto keeper has no trouble cleaning up his chance as Saul looked indecisive when taking it.
50′ Taremi is on the attack once again, causing trouble for the Atleti defence. He receives the ball on the right side of the box, running onto it before releasing a shot on his right foot but the ball is sent straight to Jan Oblak.
53′ There’s a substitution for Atleti as Wendell comes onto the pitch for Sanusi.
61′ There is a double substitution for Atletico Madrid as Joao Felix and Saul come off the pitch for Carrasco and Cunha. Former Benfica star Felix is jeered with boos from the fans of his former rivals and doesn’t show any interaction with Diego Simeone as he comes off the pitch with his head held low.
69′ And there’s a disallowed goal for Atletico Madrid. Antoine Griezmann arrows the ball into the top right corner and Atleti think they’re back in the game but the referee blows the whistle due to a possible foul in the build-up to the goal from Rodrigo De Paul. The Atleti players aren’t very happy as a confrontation brews between the two sides. Atleti’s De Paul and Porto’s Cardoso both receive yellow cards as the centre men of the confrontation as VAR checks it and agrees with the disallowance of the goal. An absolute robbery for Atleti as the foul was as soft as a feather. Shocking decision from the referee who has began to be the 12th man for the Portuguese side.
Embed from Getty Images74′ Evanilson finds himself in the box, surrounded by the Atleti defenders as he looks for a chance but some poor touches see him lose the ball to the Spanish side.
76′ Atleti are on the attack again with Correa having a chance saved by Costa followed by a chance on the opposite side by Taremi for Porto that is saved Oblak. As Rory Jennings would say, this game is indeed “a delectable medley of footballing splendour”.
77′ Mehdi Taremi is involved in the attack once again with a deflected effort from outside the box loops over Jan Oblak. Both teams are looking dangerous going forward in this second half!
83′ Porto are looking dangerous! They produce a flurry of chances but Jan Oblak manages to keep them away from the goal.
85′ Atleti make yet another substitution as youngster Barrios comes onto the pitch for Correa.
88′ Antoine Griezmann has a chance to make it 2-1 but he choses to shoot with the wrong foot and the ball goes to the side of the post.
89′ A last minute triple substitution for Porto!
90+2 Diogo Costa is on his way to his fourth UCL clean sheet in a row as he makes two brilliant saves to deny Atletico Madrid.
Embed from Getty Images90+4 And it’s 2-1! Atletico Madrid score a pretty meaningless goal as Savic rises from a corner and the ball deflects of Porto’s Marcano for a own goal!
90+5 And it’s full-time as Group B has come to a close! Atletico Madrid are out of Europe completely at the expense of Leverkusen drawing 0-0 with Club Bruges, seeing the German side making the Europa League. Porto top the group as them and Bruges make the knockout stages. What a great game!
I ran out of time for match rating unfortunately but I can definitely give either Diogo Costa or Mehdi Taremi the Man of the Match awards as they both showed 8/10 performances! Thank you everyone for reading.
