Atlético overcame De Kuip’s electric atmosphere and took the victory in Rotterdam with which they obtained a place in the round of 16 of the Champions League after two years of absence. Simeone’s team had to apply themselves but benefited from an unusual fact: two own goals from Feyenoord, the first in the 14th minute by defender Geertruida, who put a cross into his goal from the wing by Marcos Llorente. The second from his Mexican striker Santi Giménez, with another header in the 80th minute.
The match had started with very high pressure from Feyenoord, who had not deserved to lose at the Metropolitano, but such a cluster of attackers allowed many spaces and before the goal Atlético had had a very clear chance in a counterattack, a pass from Griezmann which allowed Morata to stand in front of the local goalkeeper, Bijlow, who blocked his shot in the one-on-one situation.
The 0-1 momentarily silenced De Kuip, but it was temporary. Feyenoord clearly went up and looked for the connection between their young winger Minteh and Santi Giménez. Atlético did not mind playing hidden because it is in their DNA. With the defense low, he solved without too much trouble the attacks of the Dutch team, which called for several penalties that Anthony Taylor, the English referee, did not whistle after consulting the VAR.
The second half began without changes for Atlético and just as the first had begun, with a torrent of harassment on Oblak’s goal. And like then, the first chance was a red-and-white counter that ended in a first-time shot by Griezman against the post.
Feyenoord’s first clear chance came in the 53rd minute in a very serious error in Witsel’s release of the ball. Hartman stole his wallet but his cross to Santi Giménez was intercepted in the goal area by Jose María Giménez, the Uruguayan centre-back. Simeone did not wait any longer and changed Pablo Barrios for a very tired Marcos Llorente.
It was the hand of a saint because a minute later, in the 57th minute, a cross from the Colchonero youth squad was prolonged by Mario Hermoso with a cross shot that turned into a parabola that entered the top corner, a great goal that appeased the Dutch spirits.
With half an hour left, Atlético dedicated itself to freezing the game. Feyenoord, condemned to third place with the defeat, pulled out all the strength to try to score a goal and get back into the fight. Their attacks caused very dangerous counterattacks from Atlético. De Paul and Morata forgave the third. Feyenoord scored 1-2 with a header from Mats Wieffer in the 76th minute after a corner kick. Four minutes later, Santi Giménez’s own goal left everything decided. Atlético visits Montuïc on Sunday with its homework already done in the Champions League.
To be first for the Colchoneros, a draw against Lazio on the last day at the Metropolitano is enough. The Italian team is also already classified and third place goes to Feyenoord, with Celtic eliminated.
