Atlético get back on the winning track in Europe against Rosenborg (3-0)
Kun is key and revolutionizes the team in the second half
Atlético de Madrid passed their exam against Norwegian side Rosenborg with high marks. Atleti won 3-0 thanks to goals from Godín, Kun Agüero and Diego Costa. Quique Sánchez Flores’ squad came out differently in the second half thanks to the return of Kun Agüero, who revolutionized the match and gave his teammates the confidence necessary to make a statement and show that they want to revalidate their title as Europa League champions.
Atlético de Madrid went up against Rosenborg in a real trial by fire for their interests in the UEFA Europa League. After the loss to Aris and the draw against Bayer, the ‘rojiblancos’ went into the match knowing it was their final chance to stay alive in the competition. In front of their fans, Atlético wanted to show their best side and tried to do just that from the opening minutes. Simão had a great opportunity right after the starting whistle. Tiago carried the ball into the area after a nice play, passed the ball to Forlán, who whiffed his shot, and finally Simão was unfortunate to send his shot over the crossbar.
The Norwegian side was unable to bring out their best weapons and Atlético took advantage of that to take control of ball possession, something that Quique S. Flores placed special emphasis on during the week. With squad player Joel between the posts, the ‘colchoneros’ appeared focused on scoring the first goal of the evening. They achieved this in minute 16 when winger Reyes served up a magnificent cross into the heart of the area that Uruguayan Godín flicked on past a diving Orlund and into the goal.
Atlético began to find their place on the pitch and dominate the match. The goal undoubtedly calmed them down, as they desperately needed a victory against the Norwegians to continue fighting for a spot in the UEFA Europa League round of 32. An injury to Valera was a set-back for Quique, who had to send on Perea to accompany Godín in the centre of the defense, while Ujfalusi moved over to right back. The squad coached by Eggen didn’t look comfortable on the field and were unable to create much danger in attack.
The scoring chances arrived in bunches for Atlético. First Ujfalusi with his right foot after a run down the flank, and then Diego Costa tried one-after-the-other. The Brazilian was very active, and his point-blank shot was saved on the line by the Rosenborg goalkeeper, Orlund. The visitors looked very timid, and only Mal Prica seemed to unsettle the Atleti back line at all, but when he had a chance to shoot it was well off-target. Atlético’s clear control of the midfield was key to keeping the ball in their possession. In spite of everything, the Norwegians weren’t about to give up and with the opening 45 minutes about to come to a close, Moldskred could have leveled, but his shot went off the post.
In the second half, Atlético came out with the same fire as in the first. Diego Costa made a nice pass to Diego Forlán, who was unable to get there to shoot. It was the first connection between the two strikers. Both the Brazilian and the Uruguayan wanted to increase the lead for the home team. Eggen’s squad tried to do damage on the counter-attack. The Norwegians were hoping for a mistake from Quique’s lads to get their chance. In minute 62, Prica almost beat Joel, but Godín was alert and took the ball from the striker when it looked like an equalizer was unavoidable.
And then the magic returned to the Calderón. Kun Agüero stepped back out onto the pitch for the first time after his injury and one minute later scored the second for Atlético de Madrid. The Argentine is unquestionably made of something else and showed it once again. The play began when Kun himself stole the ball, and he finished it off after a nice pass from Reyes. The match was all but over and the incorporation of the Argentinean ‘10’ was decisive. The Kun-Reyes-Diego Costa association was causing plenty of damage to the Norwegian defense.
In minute 75, Raúl García tried his luck from outside the area. The central midfielder was trying to finish off a pass from Kun, but the ball went past the far post. When Agüero came on, Reyes seemed to step it up a notch, as he moved more than ever in search of seams in the opposing defense and each time he touched the ball he seemed to be closer to the goal.
Meanwhile, Rosenborg did their best but Atlético’s defense was very strong. Quique’s squad was playing very well in the second half. The third goal again came through the boots of Kun. Diego Costa and Agüero connected on a perfect wall-pass, which ended with a header from the Brazilian, who scored a goal for the fourth consecutive game. The play was initiated by the team’s young netminder, Joel, who started the lighting-quick counter by releasing the ball with a long throw to Reyes on the right flank.
Things couldn’t have been going better for the ‘rojiblancos’. The return to the squad of Kun Agüero was decisive for the team. Their play stopped being monotonous and predicatble, and became dynamic and efficient. Eggen’s men became desperate and little-by-little the slight chances they had left disappeared. The match slowly turned into a monologue by Atlético in the final minutes. Nothing else of note happened as the side from Madrid earned an important victory that they will have to back up in their next match in this competition in Norway.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 3 (Godín, Agüero and Diego Costa); ROSENBORG, 0.
Atlético de Madrid: Joel; Valera (Perea, 21’), Ujfalusi, Godín, Filipe Luis; Assunçao, Tiago (Raúl García, 70’), Reyes, Simão; Diego Costa and Forlán (Agüero, 64’).
Rosenborg: Orlund; Lustig, Bjarsmyr, Demidov, Dorsin; Henriksen, Annan, Skjelbred (Sare, 69’); Moldskred, Iversen (Jamtfall, 81’) and Prica.
Referee: Cyril Zimmermann (SWZ). Didn’t show yellow cards to anyone for Atlético de Madrid ; for Rosenborg booked Skjelbred (41’).
Incidents: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Third match of the Europa League Group Stage.
GOALS:
1-0 (16’). Godín heads in a magnificent cross from José Antonio Reyes.
2-0 (66’). Kun Agüero scores the second from inside the area after a nice pass from Reyes.
3-0 (77’). Diego Costa tallies the third after executing a nice wall-pass with Agüero.
Atlético de Madrid went up against Rosenborg in a real trial by fire for their interests in the UEFA Europa League. After the loss to Aris and the draw against Bayer, the ‘rojiblancos’ went into the match knowing it was their final chance to stay alive in the competition. In front of their fans, Atlético wanted to show their best side and tried to do just that from the opening minutes. Simão had a great opportunity right after the starting whistle. Tiago carried the ball into the area after a nice play, passed the ball to Forlán, who whiffed his shot, and finally Simão was unfortunate to send his shot over the crossbar.
The Norwegian side was unable to bring out their best weapons and Atlético took advantage of that to take control of ball possession, something that Quique S. Flores placed special emphasis on during the week. With squad player Joel between the posts, the ‘colchoneros’ appeared focused on scoring the first goal of the evening. They achieved this in minute 16 when winger Reyes served up a magnificent cross into the heart of the area that Uruguayan Godín flicked on past a diving Orlund and into the goal.
Atlético began to find their place on the pitch and dominate the match. The goal undoubtedly calmed them down, as they desperately needed a victory against the Norwegians to continue fighting for a spot in the UEFA Europa League round of 32. An injury to Valera was a set-back for Quique, who had to send on Perea to accompany Godín in the centre of the defense, while Ujfalusi moved over to right back. The squad coached by Eggen didn’t look comfortable on the field and were unable to create much danger in attack.
The scoring chances arrived in bunches for Atlético. First Ujfalusi with his right foot after a run down the flank, and then Diego Costa tried one-after-the-other. The Brazilian was very active, and his point-blank shot was saved on the line by the Rosenborg goalkeeper, Orlund. The visitors looked very timid, and only Mal Prica seemed to unsettle the Atleti back line at all, but when he had a chance to shoot it was well off-target. Atlético’s clear control of the midfield was key to keeping the ball in their possession. In spite of everything, the Norwegians weren’t about to give up and with the opening 45 minutes about to come to a close, Moldskred could have leveled, but his shot went off the post.
In the second half, Atlético came out with the same fire as in the first. Diego Costa made a nice pass to Diego Forlán, who was unable to get there to shoot. It was the first connection between the two strikers. Both the Brazilian and the Uruguayan wanted to increase the lead for the home team. Eggen’s squad tried to do damage on the counter-attack. The Norwegians were hoping for a mistake from Quique’s lads to get their chance. In minute 62, Prica almost beat Joel, but Godín was alert and took the ball from the striker when it looked like an equalizer was unavoidable.
And then the magic returned to the Calderón. Kun Agüero stepped back out onto the pitch for the first time after his injury and one minute later scored the second for Atlético de Madrid. The Argentine is unquestionably made of something else and showed it once again. The play began when Kun himself stole the ball, and he finished it off after a nice pass from Reyes. The match was all but over and the incorporation of the Argentinean ‘10’ was decisive. The Kun-Reyes-Diego Costa association was causing plenty of damage to the Norwegian defense.
In minute 75, Raúl García tried his luck from outside the area. The central midfielder was trying to finish off a pass from Kun, but the ball went past the far post. When Agüero came on, Reyes seemed to step it up a notch, as he moved more than ever in search of seams in the opposing defense and each time he touched the ball he seemed to be closer to the goal.
Meanwhile, Rosenborg did their best but Atlético’s defense was very strong. Quique’s squad was playing very well in the second half. The third goal again came through the boots of Kun. Diego Costa and Agüero connected on a perfect wall-pass, which ended with a header from the Brazilian, who scored a goal for the fourth consecutive game. The play was initiated by the team’s young netminder, Joel, who started the lighting-quick counter by releasing the ball with a long throw to Reyes on the right flank.
Things couldn’t have been going better for the ‘rojiblancos’. The return to the squad of Kun Agüero was decisive for the team. Their play stopped being monotonous and predicatble, and became dynamic and efficient. Eggen’s men became desperate and little-by-little the slight chances they had left disappeared. The match slowly turned into a monologue by Atlético in the final minutes. Nothing else of note happened as the side from Madrid earned an important victory that they will have to back up in their next match in this competition in Norway.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 3 (Godín, Agüero and Diego Costa); ROSENBORG, 0.
Atlético de Madrid: Joel; Valera (Perea, 21’), Ujfalusi, Godín, Filipe Luis; Assunçao, Tiago (Raúl García, 70’), Reyes, Simão; Diego Costa and Forlán (Agüero, 64’).
Rosenborg: Orlund; Lustig, Bjarsmyr, Demidov, Dorsin; Henriksen, Annan, Skjelbred (Sare, 69’); Moldskred, Iversen (Jamtfall, 81’) and Prica.
Referee: Cyril Zimmermann (SWZ). Didn’t show yellow cards to anyone for Atlético de Madrid ; for Rosenborg booked Skjelbred (41’).
Incidents: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Third match of the Europa League Group Stage.
GOALS:
1-0 (16’). Godín heads in a magnificent cross from José Antonio Reyes.
2-0 (66’). Kun Agüero scores the second from inside the area after a nice pass from Reyes.
3-0 (77’). Diego Costa tallies the third after executing a nice wall-pass with Agüero.
