In the last play of the game and when the tie seemed a just outcome, Griezmann unleashed the madness in the renowned Cívitas Metropolitano with the winning goal (2-1). Atlético was not much better than Porto. On the contrary, the colchoneros suffered a lot again at home, where they had not won in Europe since October 2020. Simeone even had to hear the occasional whistle, but finally they were able to celebrate a victory.
The party went crazy from the discount when the three goals arrived. Until then, the Portuguese had deserved more, but Oblak appeared on several occasions to prevent goals from Eustaquio and Joao Mario. With ten minutes remaining and when the Portuguese were prowling the goal, the expulsion of the Iranian Taremi for faking a fall in the athletic area changed everything.
Hermoso was a double protagonist by scoring in the rival area and later scoring a penalty in his own for touching the ball with his hand. Uribe scored the maximum penalty. The center-back was one of the changes criticized by the stands, as was Joao Félix’s, since he replaced Morata when his team needed a goal.
After Hermoso’s blunder, everything seemed resolved, but Atlético overturned, and when added time was up, a corner changed everything. At the second post, Griezmann found three very important points in the mood for Simeone’s men.
“I appreciate being here,” Griezmann said when asked about how he copes with only having to play the last few minutes of each game. “It is what it is. It is not in my hands. I am grateful to be here. My family and I are happy. I want more, but I am going to give everything in the minutes that I play. Everything for Cholo, for the club, for the fans, and to enjoy”, said Griezmann to Movistar.
About the game, he commented: “The truth is that we have been higher up. We have put more players upstairs finding passing lines. In the end, Hermoso’s goal, which came after a lot of work upstairs and then the penalty, which I don’t know if It was. But it is what it is. Until the last second, anything can happen. We repeated Porto’s goal last year”.
Regarding his goal, he said: “A lot of joy. It’s a great joy, but I keep the three points. We have to improve. We’re good in training, but we have to improve in the games. We lack more confidence. We have to keep working “, he stated.
2 – Atletico de Madrid: Oblak; Molina (De Paul, m. 46), Gimenez, Witsel, Reinildo, Carrasco (Lemar, m. 46); Cry, Koke, Saul (Griezmann, m. 60); Joao Felix (Leash, m. 70), Lover (Beautiful, m. 67).
1 – Porto: Diego Costa; Pepe (John Mario, m. 61), Pepe, Carmo, Zaidu; Otavius ??(Brunus Costa, m. 77), Eustachius, Uribe, Galenus (Veron, m. 88); Evanilson (Toni Martinez, m. 77) and Taremi.
Goals: 1-0, m. 91: Beautiful. 1-1, m. 95: Uribe, from a penalty. 2-1, m. 101: Griezmann.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland). Dismissed for double yellow to Taremi (m. 81). He warned locals Koke (m. 55) and Hermoso (m. 94) and visitors Pepê (m. 52) and Joao Mario (m. 67).
Incidents: match corresponding to the first day of group B of the Champions League, played at the Metropolitano stadium before 51,777 spectators.
