Goal achieved
Atlético de Madrid won Benfica with competence thanks to goals from Saúl and Vietto in two collective good plays. Mitroglou shortened distances, but the team knew how to handle the match to win.
BENFICA 1 – 2 ATLÉTICO DE MADRID
Benfica: Julio César; André Almeida, Lisandro López, Jardel, Eliseu; Fejsa, Renato Sanches; Pizzi, Gaitán (Carcela-González, 76’), Gonçalo Guedes (Mitroglou, 46’); and Jonás (Raúl Jiménez, 61’).
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godín, Filipe Luis; Carrasco (Óliver Torres, 73’), Gabi, Saúl, Koke; Griezmann (Giménez, 92’) and Vietto (Fernando Torres, 63’).
Referee: Ovidiu Hategan (Rumania). Booked the home players Fejsa (77’); and the visiting Godín (68’), Saúl (70’), Óliver Torres (89’).
GOALS:
0-1. 33’. Saúl beats Julio César after an excellent play carried out by Griezmann and with a final assist from Vietto.
0-2. 55’. Vietto scores after a pass by Carrasco.
1-2. 75’. Mitroglou after assist from Raúl Jiménez.
Benfica: Julio César; André Almeida, Lisandro López, Jardel, Eliseu; Fejsa, Renato Sanches; Pizzi, Gaitán (Carcela-González, 76’), Gonçalo Guedes (Mitroglou, 46’); and Jonás (Raúl Jiménez, 61’).
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godín, Filipe Luis; Carrasco (Óliver Torres, 73’), Gabi, Saúl, Koke; Griezmann (Giménez, 92’) and Vietto (Fernando Torres, 63’).
Referee: Ovidiu Hategan (Rumania). Booked the home players Fejsa (77’); and the visiting Godín (68’), Saúl (70’), Óliver Torres (89’).
GOALS:
0-1. 33’. Saúl beats Julio César after an excellent play carried out by Griezmann and with a final assist from Vietto.
0-2. 55’. Vietto scores after a pass by Carrasco.
1-2. 75’. Mitroglou after assist from Raúl Jiménez.
A year and a half later, Atlético de Madrid returned to Lisbon. It wasn't like in May of 2014, to play the final of the Champions League, but to play another one. We had to beat Benfica to finish the Group Stage as leaders and the team responded from the beginning. After a few minutes of Benfica dominating the ball but without causing danger, Atlético started to control the game and the chances came one after the other before a stunned Julio César.
Godín warned with a goal that was disallowed on 18 minutes. Benfica felt the pressure and Saúl first and Gabi afterwards forced the Brazilian goalkeeper to send both shots to the corner. The third became the goal. A luxurious play initiated by Griezmann, with a pass into a gap to Vietto and he passed it back to Saúl inside the box to score the 0-1 and do justice to what was being seen on the field.
In the second half, shortly after the start, Atlético dealt Benfica a lethal blow. A great play from Carrasco ended as it deserved, in the net, putting the 0-2 that made the feat of our team bigger. But Mitroglou put uncertainty on the scoreboard a quarter of an hour to the end, but our team didn’t lose this match.