Atletico Madrid need a win to be able to stay in Europe, with Bayer Leverkusen also wanting that Europa League spot. Porto can also top the group if they themselves and Club Brugge manage to get results in their favour. Join us for live updates in this fascinating last gameweek in Group B.
Here’s the starting lineup for the home side…
And here’s the visitor’s lineup:
1- We are underway at the Estadio Do Dragao…
3- A shot to forget for Taremi, it seems as though he got caught in two minds between shooting and crossing.
4- GOAL! Porto 1-0 Atletico Madrid, Mehdi Taremi
Taremi won’t miss this one! A simple tap in for Taremi after Evanilson found him with a tidy little square ball. His 5th goal in the Champions league this season. Great start for Porto but Atletico need to wake up if they want to stay in Europe.
9- Pepe Aquino, the man who’s great run and pass created the goal, is down injured and will need some treatment after a challenge from former Benfica man Joao Felix. The Brazilian is ok to continue.
12- CHANCE! Great save by Oblak but a big chance for Galeno. Porto win the ball up high and carve their way through the defence with some nice passing. The goalscorer slides Galeno through and Oblak is equal to his shot.
14- As things stand, Atletico are bottom of the group and will be out of Europe and Porto will qualify as group winners. Still 0-0 in Leverkusen.
17- Griezmann tries an intricate pass into Molina who was running in behind but it goes out for a goal kick.
22- Atletico starting to get a hold of the game. They work their way up the pitch and Reinildo’s cross is put behind for a corner.
23- GOAL! Porto 2-0 Atletico Madrid, Stephen Eustaquio
Lovely bit of work from Galeno on the left wing who lifts the ball over Savic, gets down the line and cuts it back for Eustaquio who slots it into the bottom corner. Great goal for Porto and now Atleti are in trouble.
28- Porto are playing with confidence now, comfortably knocking the ball around between themselves. This is a very steep mountain to climb for Atletico against a tough team.
31- Atletico have a slight penalty shout with Correa going to ground but the referees wave it away. A fairly tame shot follows which Diogo Costa comfortably catches.
36- CHANCE! Another great save by Oblak. Taremi plays a neat pass through a crowd of Atleti defenders into Evanilson who fires a shot across the goal which Oblak blocks with his foot. Porto’s dominance continues.
38- BOOKING! The first card of the game goes to former Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic.
41- Porto continuing to look dangerous on the attack, this time with Grujic having a shot from the edge of the box deflected after Otavio quickly won the ball back in the Atleti half.
42- BOOKING! Another card is out, this time for Reinildo for a foul on Otavio, who’s down receiving treatment after he was wiped out winning the ball back for that attack.
45- Savic with an attempted switch pass finds the hands of Porto keeper Diogo Costa. The body language of the players seems to be dropping. Not a good sign for the Spanish side.
HALF TIME: Porto 2-0 Atletico Madrid
A poor first half from Atletico leaves them with a mountain to climb in this second half if they want to stay in Europe. Porto have been dominant in this first half and goals from Taremi and Eustaquio see the Portuguese side 2-0 up. It could’ve been more however, with Oblak making a couple of good saves to deny Galeno and Evanilson from adding to the deficit. As things stand with Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge still 0-0, Atleti are out of Europe, but there are 45 more minutes for that to change.
Bayer Leverkusen are pushing for a win in the other game in the group. They’ve had more of the ball and more shots. Will they find a winner or can Club Brugge find a goal and give Atletico a lifeline to stay in Europe…
45- The second half is underway in Portugal
47- BOOKING! Sanusi makes a darting run through the Atletico midfield but is taken out by Savic who receives a yellow card.
50- CHANCE! Taremi forces Oblak into another save with his shot which was aimed for the far corner. Taremi could’ve squared it for a teammate but chose to go himself, which is unsurprising considering his great scoring form.
51- SUB: Senesi appears to have picked up an injury from Savic’s foul and is taken off for Wendell.
56- Porto still looking comfortable in this second half, still having most of the ball and creating a couple of chances. Atletico can’t seem to get a sniff at the minute.
58- Pepe Aquino cuts out a pass from Griezmann that would’ve seen Joao Felix in behind and is applauded by the home fans. He’s had a great game so far.
59- Joao Felix goes for a curling shot from outside the box but it is comfortably caught by Diogo Costa. That’s the most he’s been tested all evening.
60- Double change for Atletico Madrid…
A bit of tension on the bench as Joao Felix goes straight to his seat and doesn’t acknowledge Simeone…
61- CHANCE! What a chance to make it 3-0 for Evanilson. Taremi finds him in a great position around the middle of the box and he’s 1v1 with Oblak but he fires it over the bar. Huge chance and a let off for Atletico Madrid.
65- Atletico get a half chance, with Carrasco driving forward and cutting inside before finding Matheus Cunha, who’s shot is blocked behind for a corner.
67- GOAL?! Antoine Griezmann finds the top corner with a great shot, but the goal won’t stand just yet. An argument breaks out and both De Paul and Cardoso receive yellow cards.
Very controversial decision. Goal disallowed and a foul is given on De Paul for what was just a 50/50 challenge. Not sure how that was disallowed, but VAR agree. Porto have been given a bit of help there.
71- A lovely bit of footwork from Carrasco before he gets kicked down, but the referee once again gives no foul. Porto go up the pitch and win a corner off the counter attack. The game is starting to spice up a bit here…
73- CHANCE! Evanilson has a free header at the near post from the corner that is saved by Oblak.
74- CHANCE! End to end stuff now! Correa finds himself 1v1 with the Porto keeper, who is equal to the Argentine’s shot.
74- CHANCE! Yet another chance in this energetic last few minutes, with Galeno going past Oblak but is at too tight of an angle to find the net.
76- CHANCE! Porto with another opportunity as Taremi’s shot from the edge of the box takes a deflection and loops over the bar.
80- Pepe with a couple of great tackles on Carrasco, he’s been great. Kept Saul quiet earlier and is now keeping Carrasco fairly quiet.
81- Attacking change for Porto…
82- CHANCE! Two saves for Oblak to keep the score at 2-0, the first one from Taremi from the edge of the box and the second from a Wendell shot. Without Oblak the score could be 5-0.
84- A sub for Atleti…
85- A half chance for Atletico. Carrasco finds Griezmann on the edge of the box but his shot doesn’t trouble Diogo Costa.
87- CHANCE! That was the opportunity. The ball is cut back to Griezmann who’s in a great position on the edge of the six yard box, but he goes for his favoured left foot and scuffs his shot wide. Sums up Atletico’s night.
89- A triple change for Porto…
90- 5 minutes added on…
FULL TIME IN LEVERKUSEN- Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Club Brugge. Atletico will be out of Europe if they can’t find 2 goals now…
90+1- CHANCE! Lovel pass from Griezmann who finds Carrasco in behind, but his weaker footed shot can’t beat Costa in the Porto goal.
90+4 GOAL! Porto 2-1 Atletico Madrid, Ivan Marcano (OG)
Surely not?! A lifeline for Atletico Madrid, Marcano heads into his own net from a ball into the Porto box. Atletico need to go for it now.
FULL TIME- Porto 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Just a late scare for Porto and no heroic comeback for Atletico Madrid. The Spanish team find themselves out of Europe with Bayer Leverkusen picking up a valuable point at home. Their poor European form finds them coming last in the group that they were favourites to win.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Porto
- Diogo Costa 8,
- Pepe Aquino 8,
- Fabio Cardoso 7,
- Ivan Marcano 7,
- Zaidu Sanusi 6,
- Otavio 7
- Grujic 6
- Eustaquio 7
- Galeno 7
- Evanilson 7
- Taremi 9 (Man of the Match)
Atletico Madrid
- Oblak 8
- Savic 5
- Gimenez 5
- Reinildo 5
- Molina 5
- De Paul 5
- Witsel 5
- Saul 4
- Griezmann 6
- Felix 5
- Correa 5
