Atlético de Madrid made the job beating Galatasaray and is now in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Red-and-whites will have to play for the first place in Lisbon against a Benfica after the Portuguese side tied against Astana 2-2 after being 2-0 down. And very soon, the first goal came with an accurate header from Griezmann to a measured cross from Gabi before the first fifteen minutes of the match. Fernando Torres played a high-level performance up front.

In the first stage the red and white dominion was total, but the second goal was missing. After the break the team changed up gears in the game and Koke warned the Turks, but Muslera made a great save. What the Uruguayan goalkeeper could not do was stop Griezmann’s effort after a great play from Gabi. The French had already scored two goals against the Turkish team in Istanbul and repeated it at the Calderon.

Galatasaray felt the blow and only unsettled Atlético to a set piece from a foul by Sneijder that was stopped by Oblak. The third one could have been scored with chances by Fernando Torres and Vietto. The Italian could not make the most from one-to-one against Muslera after a superb-quality assist by the number 9. Also the keeper saved the Turkish from a bigger defeat with a save to Koke. Torres provided the action with a incredible heel touch inside the box, but the match kept the score unchanged. Now, Atlético focus about next Saturday's game against Espanyol, back in the heat of the Vicente Calderon faithfull.


- Match stats:

Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Gámez, Giménez, Godín, Filipe Luis; Carrasco (Óliver Torres, 71’), Tiago (Saúl, 75’), Gabi, Koke; Griezmann (Vietto, 68’) and Fernando Torres.

Galatasaray: Muslera; Denayer (Olcan Adin, 25’), Chedjou, Semih Kaya, Hakan Balta (Sinan Gümüs, 78’); Bilal Kisa (Umut Bulut, 63’), Paul Karacan; Sabri Sanoglu, Sneijder, Yasin Öztekin; and Podolsky.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy). Booked the visiting Olcan Adin (56’).

Goals:

1-0 (13’) Griezmann heads into the net a cross from Gabi from the right.

2-0 (65’) Griezmann scores after an excellent play from Gabi.

- Matc report by clubatleticodemadrid.com / Photo: J.A. Sirvent