Griezmann Brace Guides Atletico To Victory

Atletico Madrid came into Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray with the possibility of locking up a spot in the knockout rounds on the line. The Frenchman opened the scoring with a header and sealed the victory with a shot from close range.

Of course, the clear victor from this match was French forward Antoine Griezmann who left to cheers after he won Atletico the game.

Griezmann’s double was the second brace he has scored against the Turkish champions after he hit both goals in Atleti’s 2-0 win in Istanbul.

Griezmann missed an even better opening to kill the game when he blazed over with Koke begging for a cut-back to slot into an open goal after the break.

Atletico, the 2014 runners-up, needed only a draw to progress and their comfortable victory at the Calderon stadium put them level on 10 points at the top of the group with Benfica and ahead of the Portuguese club on goal difference.

Hamit Altintop (knee) is also doubtful for Wednesday’s visitors and, after Mbilla Etame’s last-gasp equaliser at the weekend, Taffarel told a news conference: “We’re sorry to see [Hamzaoglu] go, but to question the decision of the management is not up to us”.

“In the first half we played a great game and had a few chances, while in the second we had a few”.

The eight group winners get to avoid each other in the draw for the round of 16.

Manchester United’s Ashley Young leaves the pitch after the Champions League group B match between Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals and set up two more as Real Madrid weathered a late Shakhtar Donetsk revival to win 4-3. “If you want to achieve something in the Champions League, you need to increase your tempo”. At the time, Galatasaray were making a sluggish start to the campaign domestically and then started showing much improved form – although it should also be said they are now on a run of three games without a win.

Atletico striker Fernando Torres failed again in his attempt to score his 100th goal with the Spanish team.