Good draw, got the 2nd worst top seed in Porto and Zenit aren't up to much either.

Vienna are shit.

Should top the group.

 

Let's not forget Rubin Kazan the 5th best team in Russia knocked Madrid out of Europe last season.

I'm very confident Zenit will beat Atletico Madrid at home in Europe. You don't win 15 times, draw 2 and lose 1 out of 18 European home games by not being up to much either. We might lose away but we will definitely win at home.

 

No doubt this isn't an easy group, but I still expect Atleti to qualify. I think Porto can always suprise people, they've rebuilt their team well over summer after the departure of Moutinho & James Rod to Monaco. Zenit are a good side too, but I think if Atleti can get 4 points from them then that'd be enough.

 

Tonight's the night. Atlético's re-entering the Champions League after 1380 days outside the most prestigious tournament in Europe. Everyone's fit and ready to go apart from Diego Costa's who's suspended for his "headbutt" on Pavel Horváth and the excessive ban he got. Adrián will take his spot which again goes on to show that Cholo is looking to recover the player he's got a soft spot for. Simeone's called up Josuha Guilavogui to the list of 19 because Tiago is half-injured, his first call-up, although the most likely outcome is that he won't be in the squad come the match. Toby Alderweireld will though.

Óliver, José María Giménez and Javi Manquillo were left out.

Zenit have travelled without Roman Shirokov and Aleksandr Anyukov who're both out with injuries. The former will definitely be missed big time because of his footballing ability and runs without the ball at his feet. He's a tremendous player, just a bit controversial. Danny is their best player this season and his form in the beginning of the season has been nothing short of brilliant. Much is won if the collective game eliminates Danny's presence as he's good in many departments: link-up play, individually and he sees the pitch really well plus he offers runs without the ball which are good. Hulk will most likely start as he's back from his injury while they'll have plenty of movement upfront. They're really good on the counter and it's something we have to look out for. Witsel is the best player in terms of holding onto the ball but I think Fayzulin's done a good job as well so far. Think it'd be a wise move to water the pitch (if Zenit comply, such are UEFA-rules I believe..) because Ansaldi does have issues with a fast pitch, otherwise a great defender who the club tracked back in the day. Their CB-pairing isn't really the best in my opinion, many of the goals they've allowed this season have come through the middle. Although you never know with Spalletti, he might go with a backline of 3 plus attacking fullbacks which he's done in past games in Europe as well as in the league this season against Kuban and Rubin. Zenit's also got a new goalkeeper called Yuriy Lodygin who's been very good since his arrival. We could probably challenge him a lot more in the aerial game than he's getting challenged in Russia because he doesn't catch the ball a lot, rather likes to punch it.

Every mistake is expensive at this level, just like Cholo said yesterday so precision is very important.

Atlético also beat Zenit with 4-2 in UEFA Youth League today after goals by Borja Martínez, Jony, Iván Calero and Iván Alejo.

 

-xTz87xITgg

¡¡¡¡¡VAMOS ATLETI!!!!!

 

Three important points which definitely could've been less. Zenit didn't have a single good play in the first half but Spalletti opened up and gave his players more freedom in the second half. Atlético should've been up at least two goals by then if it wasn't for Godín's horrendous finishing. He actually should've had a hattrick tonight if his precision was better, fortunately it didn't cost us. Diego Costa was very missed tonight. Nobody's as strong and tough to mark at Atlético compared to him and he's also tremendous individually. Villa had to drop out a lot from his striking position and nobody was in the penalty area once Zenit's defene was overplayed. I don't like the way Atlético played tonight, especially in terms of quick transitions which they allowed Zenit and one which they scored from. It could've gone either way by then, fortunately it didn't. Arda's determination on his goal is what we need while Léo's directness showed right after he was subbed on. Well played by Simeone.

Atlético didn't look like themselves tonight; the pressing was a bit off further up the pitch and the biggest problem was by far the inability to break properly. The quick, short passing was good until someone had to use a burst of acceleration, something that never happened apart from when Adrián tried. Set-pieces were really good for 70-80% of the time though and they're so important when we're missing a player of Diego Costa's profile.

Mario was good and the team eliminated Danny for some 88 minutes. The problem was Hulk though, especially when our defenders were left alone in transition. That can't happen again. The team has to be a lot more tight in those situations.

 

Arda Turaaaaaan!

Great result for Atleti, I only saw bits of the game, it didn't seem too great a performance but at this level all you need is 3 pts.

 

Looks like Adrián's got a facial fracture tonight and will be operated tomorrow. Hopefully he won't be out for too long as he had a solid game tonight, despite being pretty frustrating, as always.

 

Really happy Atleti won. Great result! Seem like Koke is coming along nicely.

 

Congrats on the win,

Arda :thumbsup:

 

amazing arda, i will have kebab with rice this week twice for him.

 

K9VedvXUEyM

Cholo opts for Raúl García in Diego Costa's position and starts with Léo Baptistão instead of Koke tonight. Should be interesting to see what'll happen.

 

Is it not the other way around? Raul Garcia in for Koke and Leo as striker.

 

Yes mate, seems that's the way we'll play, at least according to UEFA.

Surprising that Koke isn't in the starting line-up though.

 

Rotation

 

Porto has been on fire for the first 20 minutes.

 

Goool beyler! 1-1, Godin.

 

Raul Garcia played as the lone striker for 5 minutes until he got injured.

 

Arda makes it 1-2 at the 86th minute.

 

FT 1-2. What a wonderful result. Both goals from set pieces.

 

:worship:

Sweden 94' is freaking legendary. Cholo's got more set-plays than the Spanish National Encyclopedia roud:

Grande Gabi.

 

Terrific. And that without the best players Costa and Koke. Hats off to Simeone once again.

 

gabai is ****ing amazing, aupa atleti!!

 

Haha, that Arda goal, a carbon copy of Zanetti's goal at WC 98 vs England for Argentina.

The one when Beckham kicked Simeone.

Class, he still remembers that FK trick then.

 

It was identical! Simeone roud: Arda roud:

What a start to the season for Atleti...

 

Atlético's done the same thing against Mallorca in 2011-2012 (got a penalty), Deportivo in pre-season (almost scored a goal), Almería in 2013-2014 (Tiago scored) and yesterday against Porto. So it's something that's been there for a while now.

..and Lauva, Mario didn't play yesterday either, so it's an even stronger win when you think of the fact that Porto are unbeaten at home in their last 32 games, plus the way they played and that they had the lead until the 58th minute. Not pretty at all but three new points and one step closer to the target.

 

For those who want to see all matches from UEFA Champions League tonight.
Here's some very good streams in HD:


Real Madrid - FC Copenhaga:

http://www.p2pfootball.net/3875/real-madrid-fc-copenhaga.html

Manchester City - Bayern :

http://www.p2pfootball.net/3873/manchester-city-bayern.html

Shakhtar - Manchester Utd :

http://www.p2pfootball.net/3876/shakhtar-manchester-utd.html

Juventus - Galatasaray :

http://www.p2pfootball.net/3871/juventus-galatasaray.html

Anderlecht - Olympiakos :

http://www.p2pfootball.net/3870/anderlecht-olympiakos.html

Leverkusen - Real Sociedad:

http://www.p2pfootball.net/3872/leverkusen-real-sociedad.html

PSG - Benfica :

http://www.p2pfootball.net/3874/psg-benfica.html

ENKOY

 

Starting 11 for the away match against Austria Vienna:

Courtois

Juanfran
Miranda
Alderwiereld
F. Luis

Gabi
Tiago
Koke

Arda
R. Garcia

D. Costa