Benfica beats Atletico Madrid 2-1 to take Group C lead

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone refused to press the panic button in the wake of Wednesday’s 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Benfica. But Griezmann and Torres are holding up Atletico’s attack while sharing time with the so far unproductive newcomers.

“It is always hard visiting Atletico because their fans are very passionate”, Real’s veteran defender Alvaro Arbeloa said. “They definitely help in security, doing the job a unprecedented amount”.

“We are creating good openings but we are just not taking advantage of them”.

Looking for its sixth win a row, Villarreal is the team to beat in Spain.

Representing Group C, Madrid and Benfica are grouped with Turkish club Galatasaray and Kazakhstan’s Astana as they battle for a place in the next round. Vietto has yet to score in four matches.

Sandro was given the start in the Champions League in midweek but had little impact, but Munir was impressive once he replaced his team-mate in the second half.

Los Colchoneros is coming off a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to current league-leader Villarreal CF at the Estadio El Madrigal last Saturday, via Goal.

It could be payback time for Benfica striker Jonas.

Martinez was brought in as a replacement for Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic, who was sold to Juventus, but has yet to reproduce his form from the Portuguese league, where he was top scorer in each of his three seasons with Porto.

The game will be available for live stream on two different channels.

Benfica could also use one of Atletico’s own discards against it.

Benfica have several former Atletico players, such as Mexican striker Raul Jimenez and he, along with Pizzi and Silvio, will be highliy motivated for the game.

Joaquin (Betis), Isaac Success (Granada), Keko (Eibar) and Luis Alberto (Deportivo) have all been excellent in different games already this term, and they, along with the service from the wing-backs of Las Palmas, are the danger men in their respective games.

For while Benfica impressed in winning 2-0 at home against Astana two weeks ago, the result was no more than the minimum that one would expect from Rui Vitoria’s side given the Kazakh club had never previously partaken in a UEFA competition group-stage. “We are also going to struggle”. All the work they do is very important.