[ad_1]
Salzburg almost got off to a dream start, but Mergim Berisha put his thoughtful conclusion on the bar (2nd). The hosts put their stamp on the game, the goals were scored by the more relaxed guests: Mario Hermoso headed in after a precise free-kick by Yannick Carrasco (39th). After the break, Dominik Szoboszlai missed the great opportunity to equalize (49th), in the shot Carrasco completed the counterattack to the final score (86th).
This means that Sturm Graz remains the only Austrian team to have survived the (first) group stage in the premier class (2000/01). Third in Group A behind favorites Bayern (16) and Atlético (9) and leading the tail of the Moscow league (3), Salzburg (4) will move to the Europa League in February like last season. The sixteenth finals will be drawn on Monday and will be played on February 18 and 25.
Again, Salzburg had to wait until December to be able to proclaim its “game of the year.” Almost to this day exactly a year ago, the “Bulls” also had a final for promotion to the round of 16, but had to admit defeat to then-defending CL champion Liverpool 2-0. The game took place here, but with spectators.
Full attack against “wall”
This time also Salzburg needed a surprise. “Now is the time to win against a top opponent,” coach Jesse Marsch said before CL’s twelfth game in the Red Bull era. However, the American had to impersonate midfielder Mohamed Camara due to a penalty, but decided to attack and brought in a third striker in addition to Salzburg’s CL top scorer Mergim Berisha and Sekou Koita with Patson Daka. The Zambian made his comeback at 3-1 in Moscow after a muscle injury.
The offensive power was not only required by the starting position, but also because a “wall” was erected with Atlético. The two-time CL finalist had only conceded two league goals, only Bayern Munich (0: 4) and Salzburg (3: 2) scored more than one goal in a match against the “Colchoneros” (“colchoneros” ) this season .
Compared to the 1-1 draw against Bayern a week ago, Atlético manager Diego Simeone was able to rely on Uruguay’s star forward Luis Suárez after recovering from the coronavirus infection, Felipe replaced injured defender José Giménez.
Berisha meets aluminum from the start
Naturally, he should not fail because of the motivation of Salzburg against this great goal. “Gemma Jungs,” shouted the always loud defender Maximilian Wöber across the empty stadium, the message reaching the front. Koita headed the ball into Berisha’s cannon, the German Under-21 forward let Stefan Savic run into space and carefully placed the ball in the far corner. Top goalkeeper Jan Oblak was already hit, but the ball hit the crossbar (second).
Unsurprisingly, Salzburg took over and raced with the midfield diamond with Berisha at the top and the extremely agile duo Koita and Daka against the sometimes too static five-man string of guests. The home team was in the game from the beginning and presented in a defensive and compact manner. But at least a Salzburg goal was needed, Koitas Roller didn’t help (15th), Dominik Szoboszlai controlled Oblak with a low shot (16th).
Atlético go ahead after a free kick
Atlético got dangerously ahead for the first time at 20 minutes. Unlike the first leg, this time Marcos Llorente missed his shot after having shot again from the right (24th). Salzburg recorded more deals in the first half (and at the end), but again it wasn’t convincing enough. Daka’s shot after the counterattack ended in a wide off position (30th), a corner kick from Szoboszlai to Junuzovic and his volley did not work, unlike in July in Vienna (32nd).
The Spaniards barely had a chance outside the game, unless the hosts invited them with a spirited dribble into their own penalty area, but Wöber’s misstep was corrected by Stankovic. The Salzburg goalkeeper caught Llorente’s Stanglpass (33rd). Six minutes later, Madrid went ahead: after Junuzovic fouled young star Joaa Félix, Yannick Carrasco crossed precisely in front of the goal and Mario Hermoso headed into the crowd (39th). As an alleged penalty against Daka was not rightly punished, despite Salzburg being overweight (8-2 shots on target), the hosts went into halftime in the first half with a deficit.
Szoboszlai gives a great opportunity
The second part started like the first: with Salzburg attacking. First right-back Rasmus Kristensen missed after a free kick with his spinning shot (47.). Two minutes later, Szoboszlai missed Salzburg’s biggest opportunity: the Hungarian, courted by the big clubs, was lucky with the ball after an irresistible start after a brace with Berisha, but just before the 20-year-old Oblak missed him. nerves, as he did against Bayern’s Manuel Neuer, and Szoboszlai turned it off Leder beyond the door on the left (49).
Salzburg bites its teeth
The fact that Salzburg were not yet ready for the CL round of 16 was perhaps also demonstrated by Koita’s second incorrectly thrown ball that night. The Austrian serial champions struggled, but nothing else could be won against the defensive bulwark of the guests that night. Dakas aimed much more (56º) or more (58º), very little.
Otherwise, Atlético had it all under control as time passed with the waning strength of the hosts. Savic sustained his ambitions to reach the CL round of 16 with a tough tackle against Daka, but the defender was given a yellow card for his total lack of understanding (61.). Mwepu came close to equalizing again with a long-range shot, which was very fine (77th).
Carrasco puts an end to it
Marsch brought in Noah Okafor and Karim Adeyemi for the final offense, but Atlético did not let anything burn out and marked the end point on the counter attack. The young Portuguese star Félix first tested Stankovic from a distance (81º), in the counterattack Carrasco took over from a center from “Joker” Ángel Correa that is worth watching from a volley until the final score (86º). Atlético reached the second round of the CL for the third time in a row, Salzburg failed like the previous year despite a good performance.
Champions League, Group A, matchday six
Wednesday:
Salzburg – Atlético de Madrid 0: 2 (0: 1)
Wals-Siezenheim, SR Taylor (ENG)
Sequence of objectives:
0: 1 Beautiful (39.)
0: 2 Carrasco (86.)
Salzburg: Stankovic – Kristensen, Ramalho, Wöber (89./Onguene), Ulmer – Mwepu (89./Sucic), Junuzovic, Berisha, Szoboszlai (89./Okugawa) – Dhaka (73./Okafor), Koita (79./Adeyemi ))
Athletic: Oblak – Trippier, Savic, Felipe, Hermoso – Llorente (91./Lodi), Koke, Saul Niguez (64./Herrera), Carrasco (89./Lemar) – Suarez (65./Correa), Joao Felix (89. / Torreira)
Yellow cards: Ramalho or Hermoso, Savic, Simeone (coach)
