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We are preparing for the euro. In summer we don’t have a team, we only have a stadium. In the Champions League we do not exist, the National Arena saves us, but under special conditions, in times of pandemic. Just because the Spanish government still refuses to receive delegations from the UK, and with us it is possible, even without quarantine.
And because Diego Simeone always remembers Bucharest with pleasure. Here he won his first trophy as a coach at Atlético (and Koke too), Europa League, in 2012. El Cholo is superstitious, he insisted on returning to the Capital, and the rojiblancos chose the same hotel as in 2012, Intercontinental. “We are home, “Simeone said with a smile.
The gang from Bucharest
Bucharest is home to the “talisman stadium”, as the journalists from AS Arena Națională call it. He brought Madrid good luck nine years ago, in the 3-0 final with Athletic Bilbao, to see if it will be the same against Chelsea, a team much stronger than the Basque, in the elite of football continental, in ”Optimile” Champions League Let’s enjoy this game, the first at this level in the League at the National Arena.
+29 PHOTOSPerhaps it will not be the only one, if UEFA decides the return of Liverpool – Leipzig (March 10, 2-0 in the first leg, in Budapest) and Man. City – Mönchengladbach (March 16, the tour is today, also in Budapest ) that will be organized by us.
The Spanish are not alone, they also invited four sympathizers to the officers’ lodge. All members of the Gașca Fan Club of Bucharest (founded in 2011), Iberians who have settled here for a long time, led by Leandro Arias, the leader of the red and white fans, married to a Romanian woman and who has been living in the Capital. for 13 years. Leandro is optimistic: “Only victory.”
Every barbed screech can be heard
What a strange sensation to experience in empty stands, without spectators! It’s like you’re alone in a 55,000-seat stadium. Strange. The teams are in the center, the Champions League anthem is loud, but the seats have no soul, no one applauds, no one sings, no one waves flags. Nothing. Starts the game. You have the same feeling that you are on a friendly date. Only the screams on the ground stand out. And every strong pass, every shot, every contact, every crack of spikes at the opponent’s defenders.
Attack on defense. Blue versus white-red
On the grass, Chelsea appears to be “at home.” All the blues are in the Iberian half, they have great possession, 60-70%, they pass the ball, they look for solutions, especially on the right wing, where Hudson-Odoi, who changed a penalty for Tuchel after only 30 minutes in the last stage of the Premier, sprint after sprint in search of a cross for Werner or Giroud. You always have to fold it. Atlético defends the cholo, 5-4-1 or even 6-3-1. He stalks the counterattack, and Suárez steals a ball near the corner and throws it in front of the goal, but Lemar arrives too late.
In response, Werner is inches from decisive deviation. Werner himself fakes Savici and shoots from an angle. Reject Oblak. The islanders accelerate, but are on the defensive and Suárez misses the greatest opportunity: he slides in front of the goal just at the moment of the shot. No ball on goal, Atlético! The whole half.
“Giroud, fabulous!”
On the sidelines, Simeone does not stop for a moment. He is always on his feet, shaking, screaming, gesturing, he seems ready to hit the field. He asks referee Brych to call Jorginho and the German “center” shows Cholo the yellow card. Tuchel sits down on the bench, then gets up to give some advice and returns to his chair. Down, up, that’s how the whole game was. Chelsea’s continued offense is abruptly interrupted. João Félix shot wide deflected. Scissors, but the direction is not good. On. Ball on the grass. Everything changes in an instant.
At the other door, Giroud attempts the same acrobatic performance. And works. The net shook. Aim! “What a performance, what a show! Giroud, fabulous!” Shouted a French commentator. However, the assistant is holding the flag. Offside! Offside? One minute verification in the VAR. In the end, it is empty. The ball came from a Spanish defender. 0-1.
It’s the 68th minute and Chelsea leads. Nothing can be changed. Madrid residents no longer have the strength to return. And so it ends. Chelsea’s attack was rewarded with the magic of Giroud. How will Simeone respond in return? One thing is for sure, you can no longer defend yourself. At 0-1, the defense doesn’t help him at all.
100 matchesHe played against Atlético in the Champions League, the “centenary” in Bucharest. 78 of the games, with Simeone on the bench
0-5it was the proportion of shots on goal; all belonged to the Chelsea players
62%was in possession of the ball last night in favor of the English team
Atlético de Madrid 0-1 Chelsea
Atlético de Madrid – Chelsea, home teams:
Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Llorente, Savic, Felipe, Hermoso – Correa, Koke, Saul, Lemar – Joao Felix, Suarez
Coach: Diego Simeone
Chelsea: Mendy – Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger – Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso – Monte, Werner – Giroud
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Stadium: National Arena (Bucharest)
+29 PHOTOS- Atlético de Madrid – Chelsea / Photo source: Cristi Preda (GSP) Imago Images
Practice Center Centro
Welcome to the National Arena, Bucharest! 👌 #ATMCHE pic.twitter.com/jSOhSNAkTs
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 23, 2021
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