Atlético Believes They Can Still Qualify for the Last 16 of the Champions League

DBasia.news – Atletico Madrid are on the verge of being eliminated in the Champions League group stage after being beaten by AC Milan. However, Diego Simeone has not lost faith in qualifying for the last 16.

Atletico and Milan are both targeting three points when they meet at the Wanda Metropolitano, Thursday (25/11/2021), on the fifth matchday of Group B of the Champions League.

Because, there is only one ticket left from this group after Liverpool are confirmed to be group winners. Therefore, Atletico and Milan played aggressively from the early minutes.

Despite acting as the guest team, Milan appeared more stable with 14 attempts, four of which were on goal. Atletico even more waiting to counterattack.

Throughout the match, Atlético succeeded in reducing attack after attack by Milan. Unfortunately on the one hand, Atlético also struggled to create opportunities because only seven attempts were released throughout the match, with three on target.

The match looked like it was going to end in a draw before Messias Junior headed the ball in the 87th minute and Jan Oblak couldn’t stop it. Milan finally brought home a 1-0 victory as well as opening wide opportunities to qualify for the round of 16.

Because, Milan is now in third place standings with four points, shifting Atletico to caretaker because of superior goal difference. This situation certainly makes it difficult for Atlético who is actually the seed in this group.

However, Atletico regretted why they couldn’t maximize the slightest chance of being a goal in a match as tight as this. So they have to play life and death against Porto on matchday 6 December 8, with a target of three points while hoping AC Milan fail to beat Liverpool.

“It was a difficult game, we had to work hard, with all our efforts both attacking and defending to take the slightest advantage. They could maximize it and we didn’t with Matheus Cunha. We failed to maximize it,” said Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone at Marca.

“You have to take a better look at this game, neither we nor them were very comfortable, there were chances to be had, a game this close is usually decided by one small detail. You are sometimes punished for moments like this in the Champions League. If you deserve to win then You get it. We will prove it in the match against Porto to qualify,” he continued.