Atletico Madrid News
Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid: Player Ratings
Atletico Madrid bested Manchester United at the Old Trafford in classic Diego Simeone fashion. A low block, incredible work rate, one moment of brilliance, and sensational game management – all the trademarks of a Simeone UCL second leg win.
As a collective, it seems impossible to fault Atleti despite a game filled with refereeing controversy. But how did they fare individually? Join Madrid Universal as we run the rule over the visitors.
Jan Oblak: 8.5
Oblak looked back to his best as he made a couple of sensational saves. His positioning was top-notch as he denied Anthony Elanga from close range in the first half, and then made a Spiderman-esque leap to stop Raphael Varane’s header in the second half.
Stefan Savic: 7
Savic had problems dealing with an in-form Jadon Sancho, who was constantly making dribbling around him. His poor marking nearly created a moment of magic for the former Borussia Dortmund winger in the first half.
Jose Gimenez: 7.5
Gimenez knew what he had to do spearheading the defence, and helped close the game to perfection. Did not put a foot wrong the entire night, and comfortably dealt with Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.
Reinildo Mandava: 7
Mandava, not a centre-back by trait, was beaten by Anthony Elanga and Bruno Fernandes a couple of times on the night, but did well to keep his composure in the dying minutes of the game.
Marcos Llorente: 7.5
Sensational game from Llorente yesterday who not only helped circulate the ball with each touch, but also riled up players by continuous fouls time-wasting.
Rodrigo de Paul: 8
De Paul came incredibly close to scoring the opening goal on the night, only to be denied by David de Gea. After that, though, it was an all-round midfield masterclass from him as he was faultless in possession and gritty off it.
Koke: 8.5
It would be nearly impossible to pick out any flaws from Koke’s performance yesterday. Through the game, his positioning and presence of mind helped Atleti keep the ball. There was no beating Atleti’s captain yesterday as he lost the ball only seven times and won two fouls.
Renan Lodi: 8
Renan Lodi stole the headlines during the first leg with his sensational cross to Joao Felix that helped Atleti open the scoring. Yesternight, he was one of the protagonists again as he got on the end of a cross himself and eventually came home as the winner.
Antoine Griezmann: 9
It was the Antoine Griezmann show yesterday, who seemed back to his best vs United. The Frenchman assisted the only goal of the game, but, more importantly, put in a mammoth defensive shift.
He put in several brilliant tackles and won the ball during moments United were attacking. He dropped as deep as the right-back to defend at times, but was still available to start every single counterattack by Atleti. Man of the match.
Joao Felix: 7
Felix was not nearly as prominent yesterday as the first leg, but his genius thinking set up Griezmann’s assist. He also created one chance and was fouled three times.
SUBSTITUTES:
Geoffrey Kondogbia: N/A
Came on too late to make a proper difference.
Felipe: N/A
Came on at the 90th minute and lost the ball with his only touch of the game.
Angel Correa: N/A
Came on at the 93rd minute, and his only contribution was a clearance.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder on the derby against Real Madrid: “Very difficult to beat them”
Following a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener against Lazio, Atletico Madrid will shift all their attention to La Liga, as they brace themselves for the derby against Real Madrid this weekend.
Heading into this game, Atleti midfielder Marcos Llorente spoke about Real Madrid’s quality and Atletico Madrid’s chances of squeezing all three points from this iconic derby.
Llorente on Madrid derby
“The sensations are good. The team is very good, the other day we played a great game despite ending up drawing. I really think that the team did a great job that must be maintained for this match,” Llorente said in an interview with Diario AS.
When asked whether or not Real Madrid being tagged as favourites could aid Atleti, the midfielder said, “Honestly, it neither motivates me nor demotivates me. We simply have to do what we work on during the week, what the coach asks of us.”
Llorente stressed the importance of the game, adding, “It is a great rival we have in front of us, they are having a very good start to the season and that motivates me and everyone to try to play a good game.”
“Real Madrid is a great club, they have great players and it is very difficult to beat them. I think we have competed, we have also achieved several draws, but in the end, either you go out one hundred percent and do things very, very well or it is difficult to beat them,” he added.
A former member of the Real Madrid youth academy, Llorente joined Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since then, he has racked up over 150 competitive appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Llorente, though, said he feels no sense of vindication when he performs well against his former team.
“No. In the end, it’s been many years since I left there and I’m at Atlético. Perhaps in the first years, those types of feelings and sensations can arise, but today they no longer do,” he said.
Llorente on Vinicius, Koke & Bellingham
The Atletico Madrid star went on to talk about other aspects of the game, including the fact that his team had one less player every time they faced Real Madrid last season.
“I have zero worries. These are things that are not in our remit, that escape our hands. We play football, the referees referee and those who have to decide decide,” he said.
Llorente, in fact, said that the return of Koke could be a real boost for Atleti. “It is always good that Koke is with us, both on the field and in the day-to-day life of the game,” he said.
“Beyond the grass. The support he gives, the advice he gives us, his experience. it is always important to have him and it is great news that he is already training with us,” he added.
Talking about the absence of Vinicius Junior and the form of Jude Bellingham, Llorente said, “Well, you have to be careful with everyone. All Real Madrid players are very good and can make a difference at any moment of the game. Bellingham is having a great start and we have to take that into account and be very focused.”
Finally, Marcos Llorente put out a message for all the Atletico Madrid fans, claiming their support ahead of this crucial encounter this weekend.
“It will be a full house as always. We don’t have to tell them anything, they know the importance of this match for Atlético, we know that they never fail, they are always supporting us and we count on them,” he said.
