Panathinaikos 2, Atlético 3: We’re Back (Almost)
By: Al | August 19th, 2009
Hello Champions League, nice to see you again. Oh no, not yet? Fine, be that way. See you for good next week.
It’s still not over but we’re grasping that ticket into the group stages. Three away goals and being a goal ahead in aggregate is such an advantage that it’s not even funny. Panathinaikos will have to score at least two more goals than us, which won’t be that easy at all, especially since we’re at home next time. Hell, we haven’t even lost in the Champions League last season so they better know how seriously this team takes the competition. How likely is it that we’ll lose next week?
Panathinaikos have a mountain to climb while we have a measly hill. Past that measly hill is Europe.
Panathinaikos 2 РAtl̩tico Madrid 3
0-1, m. 35: Maxi RodrÃguez
1-1, m. 46: Salpigindis
1-2, m. 62: Forlán
1-3, m. 68: Agüero
2-3, m. 73: Leto
First off, I’d like to say “oh my god, Sergio Asenjo!”. This guy is so hardcore that isn’t even funny. Great save after great save, and leaps so crazy that despite them not all beind difficult, they still make you say “wow that was great”. I like this guy already. He wanted Champions League action and he got it. Welcome.
Our player of the match: the entire attack. The attack had a really, really good game, I mean c’mon it was three goals! Each goal was excellent. The first, an easy Maxi one-on-one that would have been missed had Forlan been in his shoes (love the guy, but he can’t one-on-one for shit). The second, classic 08/09 Forlan, a left footed rocket from outside the box. Aguero also did a bit of a Maradona impression by running from the halfway line, faking some defenders out, then smashing the ball in from a tight angle for the third. Very brilliant.
I applaud Panathinaikos’ efforts, because they were very unfortunate from that amazing third goal. They had a goal disallowed and they also couldn’t get through that wall that was Sergio Asenjo. They tried and tried but they’ll have to be much luckier in the next leg. If we were “intimidated” at all today, I don’t want to think what they will be in for come next week. If they want a chance in hell to score at least two against us, they need to start that Sebastian Leto guy. Just saying.
Most importantly, I’m proud of the team’s ability to overcome all the pressure before this game. The only thing on most of the players’ minds was how intimidating the stadium was and how crucial this game was. The team that played today was no different than the Atletico that played last year in the Champions League. That version had hunger and this one does too. I’m not even talking about La Liga right now, whats more important to me at this point of the season is assuring that we get to the highest level and that we do it in a deserved rather than convincing way. I haven’t been let down.
It’s going to be an awesome season, and Atlético will have a great run into the Champions League… once they’re through to the group stages, that is.
If you still don’t watch this team play, start right now jerks.
Category: Review
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It was a good game last night and we should finish them off when we get home
Posted from
United States
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Man, you don’t know anything! How could you say “Forlán can’t one-on-one for shit”? Go watch his goals on YouTube (and I don’t mean the infamous miss againts Juve in a friendly played in the USA). He does not only score from long distance. He’s good at one-on-ones, not like Romario or Ronaldon, but he’s good still.
Posted from
United States -
I’m with Al on Forlan, brilliant striker but he can just miss the easiest 1v1 and then score a rocket out of nowhere. Maddening, I remember last year when I was at Atletico-Villarreal he missed several easy shots, of course with a customary 25yard goal earlier in the match.
I know defense isn’t Atleti’s way, and 2 goals away to Pana isn’t bad, but the team definitely needs to learn how to tighten up in the CL or it’s going to be Porto all over again.
Posted from
United States -
well done to atletico, as a pana fan i say this
bryce moon was a bit lazy and our defenders did not exactly get on top of forlan and aguero, which is a mistake that pays because both strikers are world class and very lethal. i hope that next match we see more of djibril cisse, when he gets the ball he looks lethal, only he doesnt get the ball that much. pana goes thru in the end i beleivePosted from
United States -
@ Colchonero
Okay, he’s not TERRIBLE at one-on-ones but he had some godawful misses last season. Like Alessio said, the Atletico-Villarreal match was an example of that. It still hurts thinking about that miss near the end of the game.
Posted from
United States -
So I have just recently fallen in love with soccer and have started to lean towards supporting Atletico (thanks mostly to Asenjo and Aguero)and this is the best place I have found to talk about the team. Is this true? I appreciate what the blogger is doing, but are there any forums out there for Atleti? Also I have some questions about the team. If they were to sell Aguero in January (which I hope they don’t)who would be the top choice to replace him. How does the B team work dop most of these players play for Atleti in the future? And who have the brightest futures on the B team (Koke,Keko,Borja)?
Posted from
United States -
I don’t visit Atletico forums in English but the only one I know of is forum.atleticomadrid.de which is okay but I’m creeped out by some of the people on the site, so I don’t go to it. My main forum is in Spanish and it’s http://www.colchonero.com but that’s probably of no help. Atletico isn’t that big internationally but you’re always welcome to participate here, and sometimes people that post have links in their names to Atletico forums as well. I can scour the comments later for you if you want.
As for the Aguero question, our only logical replacement would be Florent Sinama-Pongolle or Maxi Rodriguez even. We could buy some player, like an Inter Milan flop or something, but we have two extra players who can play as striker.
Posted from
United States -
Thanks for the help. I have taken a few years of Spanish so I joined your site and am able to read some of it. I don’t know how much I will be able to contribute, but it will help.
To Aguero I guess I am just used to American trades and normally getting someone to replace the player instead of mainly just money, but wouldn’t there be a large drop off in production from Aguero to Sinama-Pongolle or from Rodriguez to one of the midfielders who would replace him?
So if I am right the normal starting XI for Atleti would be:
Aguero Forlan
Simao Assuncao Garcia Rodriguez
Can someone help me out with the defense? Ujafalusi would start and I assume Juanito?
then Asenjo in goal.
is this mostly correct?Posted from
United States -
Yes, that is correct, the defense (left to right) is usually:
Antonio Lopez, Pablo Ibanez, Ujfalusi, Heitinga
nowadays, Juanito will probably take Pablo’s place but the other three guys have their place almost guaranteed.
As for the drop in quality in strikers, there definitely would be one. Aguero is obviously great, but he’s very inconsistent (at least, last season he was). It’s not like every game he is the driving force that wins games, that’s actually Diego Forlan by the way. Sinama-Pongolle is great with headers and has the goalscoring instinct, but if he had to step up he would probably do just fine. As for Maxi, we have Jose Antonio Reyes who can play well in the right midfield position, but it’s not certain that Reyes will stay with the team.
Posted from
United States -
Yeah I realize that Forlan was the leading goal scorer in the entire league last year. My main concern is that Aguero is only 21 and still has room for improvement. It is just pretty confusing because todays reports have him both leaving for Chelsea by the end of the month or signing a new contract by Christmas. I just need to find out which news sources to trust and which not to. Also I have heard rumors on Eduardo Salvio of Lanus, but I have not been able to find any recent updates on him. I think he would be a good pick up.
Posted from
United States -
Chelsea won’t be signing Aguero this season, I can tell you that much. I only say that because he is cup tied, having played already in the Champions League with Atletico will make him ineligible to play except in the EPL and domestic cups.
Posted from
United States -
99% of rumors and “confirmed” trades you read are bullshit, Spencer. Especially when the mercado is open (summer and January) or in international breaks when there’s nothing else to do. Until it’s on Atleti or Chelsea’s website, it is not true.
Posted from
United States -
Haha ok thanks very much
Posted from
United States
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