A solvent Atlético de Madrid, with one more step when necessary, beat Lazio at the Metropolitano on the last day of the group stage (2-0) and secured first place, a privilege that had not been earned in the Champions League. for seven years. Simeone’s men amend the blot of last season, when they finished fourth in their group, and are entering the playoffs for the title for the eighth time in the last ten seasons.
The colchoneros, already classified, needed a tie to prevent the Italians from moving them to second place, but they did not go out to speculate, energetic from the kick-off. A good staging that was rewarded in the 6th minute with the goal from Griezmann, who put Lino’s center from the left into the net with his right foot.
Lazio began to take the tone of the game after ten minutes with a good offensive action by Zaccagni and another by Guendouzi, who almost took advantage of the lack of forcefulness in Hermoso’s clearance to surprise Oblak. The red and whites slowed down and began to show their more conservative version, more crouched.
An Immobile almost took advantage of the situation and could not give direction in the small area to the shot after a pass from Luis Alberto. He brought Lino out of lethargy with a good kick. The Brazilian was the negative protagonist shortly after when he was in positional offside in the goal disallowed for Hermoso. Atlético regained energy at half-time and wrote the same script as at the start of the match: goal in the 6th minute, this time from Lino when he took advantage, with a shot in the area, of the Romans’ indecision in defense.
With the feeling of having the job well done, Simeone’s men fired on their own initiative, without fanfare in attack and avoiding the reaction of Sarri’s men in defense. Morata could have scored the third goal, after a free kick from Memphis, but he inexplicably sent the goalkeeper’s rebound wide. It didn’t matter, Atlético was once again among the 16 best teams in Europe.
