Here we go for the final matchday of the Champions League group stage, my name is Michael and I will be keeping you up to date with Porto vs Atletico Madrid, as well as keeping an eye on the Bayer Leverkusen vs Club Brugge to find out who will take the final Europa League spot.
Line-ups –
1′ – And we have kicked off Atletico will be trying to start fast in order to try and wrap up that Europa League spot, which they will do by beating Leverkusen’s result.
2′ – And we have our first opening Atletico starting earlier down the right hand side with some nice interplay between Saul and Molina which results in a corner after the cross is blocked by Porto.
5′ – GOALLLLLLLLLL – It’s a tap in for Taremi, the attack starts with Otavio down the Porto left, with a ball whipped across the box for an easy finish 1-0. This goal also means Leverkusen are going through to the Europa League as things stand.
8′ – Atletico are struggling to get a foot hold in the game, they have started nervously and you can see the goal has put the players on the back foot.
10′ – There’s currently a stop in play as Pepe receives some treatment on the side lines.
12′ – Another Chance from Porto Galeno has the ball played into his feet and has a one on one with Oblak who holds his ground well and forces a good save to prevent another goal.
15′ – Porto even though they don’t need to come out and bring the pressure to Atletico they have done that and keeping the ball well and creating good chances against a suspect looking Atletico back line.
18′ – Joao Felix with a nice piece of skill trying to get past Pepe but the Porto player is able to hold his own and stop a cross from getting into the box.
21′ – Atletico with their best attack of the night Saul once again at the heart of it playing a through ball to Reinaldo for a cross that Galeno couldn’t control having the ball go out for a corner.
23′ – GOALLLLLLLLLL – Porto have got a second courtesy of Eustaquio, Evanlison puts a inviting ball into the middle of the box and Eustquio wants it more than any Atletico player putting the ball into the bottom left corner making it 2-0.
Embed from Getty Images27′ – Another corner for Porto who are keeping the pressure on Atletico, their smelling blood in the water and Atletico’s defensive struggles are showing their are more goals for Porto in this game.
31′ – A chance for Atletico after a good move Pepe can’t get the ball clear and gives it straight to Reinaldo who puts an inviting cross in that finds De Paul who puts it straight to into the gloves of Diogio Costa.
34′ – Atletico starting to get a hold into this match, keeping the ball well in midfield and creating a few chances, if they want to get the Europa League spot they need the next goal.
36′ – After some sustained pressure from Atletico, Porto have a great chance with Taremi holding the ball up before laying a lovely weighted pass through to Otavio who puts it to Oblaks left forcing an amazing with his feet.
39′ – Another Atletico attack Molina with a ball in for Correa who wins a throw in after trying to get a shot off.
41′ – Reinaldo is given a yellow after a bad challenge on Otavio, although the ball was able to fall to Grujic whose shot is immediately blocked out for a corner.
44′ – Atletico still looking sloppy throughout this first half, with Porto out working and outplaying the Spanish side who as it stands is out of European football for this season.
45′ – 2 minutes have been added on before the end of the first half.
Half-time – An amazing first half for Porto who currently sit top of their group due to the Brugge only drawing 0-0 in their group. However we know Atletico can come back form 2-0 down they have just done it last weekend against Cadiz so there every chance Simeone’s men have a similar story play out in the second half tonight to try and salvage the Europa League spot from Bayer Leverkusen.
45′ – We are back underway for the second half, can Atletico make a comeback or will Porto hold on for a dominant win before heading into the last 16 with big momentum on their side.
47′ – A yellow card for Stevan Savic after clearing out Zaidu who was on a down the left hand side, trying to get the ball in a dangerous position, but has won a free kick giving Porto the opportunity for a third goal.
51′ – Porto are forced into their first chance after Zaidu cannot continue from the force of Savic challenge a couple of minutes earlier.
53′ – Its much of the same form the first half right now with Porto dominating the possession and the chances as well as keeping solid at the back whenever Atletico get forward. It needs repeating Atletico are going out of European competition right now unless they get it together and get a couple of goals to jump Leverkusen in the group.
57′ – Atletico still have that dangerous players and Porto cannot switch of as just shown by that counter with Griezmann almost playing through Felix for what looked like a one on one with Diogio Costa in the Porto net.
59′ – Substitutions for Atletico
61′ – Chance for Porto Evanilson should have had the ball in the back of the net, Taremi with anohter nice lay off to Evanilson who takes a touch and blasts over the bar from close range what should have been the third goal and game, set, match for Porto.
63′ – More pressure from Porto who force a corner after a ball in from Wendell cleared away by Gimenez for a corner which goes straight into the keepers arms.
66′ – Cunha has been good since coming causing a nuisance for the Porto centre backs and he does it again winning a corner after an effort blocked by Marcano.
67′ – GOALLLLLLLL – Atletico have it in the back of the net with Griezmann having the ball in the back after a nice finish.
67′ – VAR – The goal has been disallowed after the VAR has deemed Rodrigo De Paul has fouled Otavio ruling the goal out and keeping the score at 2-0 to Porto.
71′ – Carrasco has made a really nice impact since coming on and is fouled however the ref plays advantage and Atletico lose the ball conceding a corner after a chance from Evanilson.
73′ – A dangerous corner from Porto giving them another chance to make it 3-0 however Evanilson heads into the gloves of Oblak, which keeps it 2-0.
74′ – This game is coming to a head Atletico are finally getting into the game and creating chances, remember Atletico only need two goals if Leverkusen draw however if Leverkusen are winning Atletico will need three goals in the remaining 14 minutes plus added time.
Embed from Getty Images78′ – Changes are being readied for Porto, we will see if Sergio Conceicao wants to shut up shop or go for a third based on these changes.
80′ – Substitution for Porto
81′ – Taremi has a massive chance with the ball in the box and strikes it to the left of Oblak who makes another incredible stop to keep Atletico with a chance coming into the final 10 minutes in the game.
83′ – Cunha with a speculative effort wide of the post as its looking like Atletico will be bowing out of Europe.
85′ – Substitution for Atletico
87′ – Griezmann with another chance and that may be one of Atletico’s last after a ball whipped in by Carrasco finds Griezmann he slides the ball wide of the post in a position where he should of worked Diogio Costa.
89′ – Double Sub for Porto
90′ -There’s five minutes of added on time for Atletico to try and cause some magic, however in all likeliness this is the last five minutes they will play in Europe this season.
90+1′ – News of the Leverkusen games has hit the Porto fans and they are celebrating that they will win Group B and by all likelihood Atletico are now out of Europe.
90+4′ – GOALLLL – Could it be, Carrasco with a corner that goes through everyone takes a =n unlucky deflection of Marcano and goes in after an own goal.
Full-time – It is over Atletico bow out of Europe and although they made things interesting at the end the match was not much of a contest Porto dominated through out and after confirming a win in Group B will be a dangerous side for any team to face in the round of sixteen. As for Atletico questions have to be asked a team expected to win this group when it was drawn, however due to poor performances and lack of discipline they go home in last place and with a dark cloud hanging over the team.
Player ratings
Porto
Costa – 8
Sansui – 6
Marcano – 6
Cardoso – 6
Pepe – 8
Eustaquio – 8
Grujic – 7
Otavio – 7
Galeno – 6
Tarmei – 9 (MOTM)
Evanlison – 8
Atletico Madrid
Oblak – 8
Reinaldo – 6
Gimenez – 7
Savic – 6
Saul – 7
Witsel – 6
De Paul – 7
Molina – 6
Felix – 6
Griezmann – 5
Correa – 6
