Atlético de Madrid vs AS Monaco: match notes

AS Monaco were moving towards Madrid to face Atlético de Madrid, in this beautiful arena of Wanda Metropolitano. The Monegasques were already eliminated in advance, while the Colchoneros had to win in the race for the first place in the group with Borussia Dortmund. The match still had the challenge for the formation of Thierry Henry, who hoped to win a qualification for the Europa League via the third place in the group. The French coach had to do without the services of many experienced players such as Subasic, Jovetic, Lopes, Glik, Aholou or Sidibé. Biancone, Mbadengo or Sylla started the match. Colchonero side, it was a little more clbadic, even if Simeone had to compose without Diego Costa, Diego Godin and Josema Giménez. Saúl started the game on the bench.

Not surprisingly, Atlético took all three points thanks to this 2-0 success. And the match started badly for AS Monaco, since after only two minutes of play, the Colchoneros would take the advantage. Koke, completely alone, approached the surface and then shot a strike, deflected by Badiashile. Benaglio was deceived, and Atlético de Madrid had already done the hardest (1-0, 2nd). The Monegasques were under water, and Thomas Lemar touched the post on this superb free-kick (8th). The Rojiblancos were infinitely superior to their opponent, and the second goal would quickly fall. Angel Correa mystified Jemerson in the box, before releasing a caviar to Antoine Griezmann who finished the action of a beautiful outside (2-0, 24th).

The difference in level and experience was too important

The young Monegasque shoots did not carry weight. At each Atlético offensive, it was a panic in the last meters, and Diego Simeone's troops strolled, giving the impression of playing at 30%. In the first half, AS Monaco had to wait until the 45th minute to sign their first shot at Jan Oblak's cage. a header from Badiashile on a free kick, not framed. In front, Antoine Griezmann delivered a new XXL service. Thierry Henry seemed disappointed on the bench Monegasque. After the break, the Spaniards had even slightly lowered the pace, giving the impression to save themselves. Koke was well rested from the break, and they left a little more the ball to the players of Monaco. Wanda Metropolitano's nice ovation had to be noted for Radamel Falcao, the former member of the house, who entered the 55th minute of play.

The Asémistes finally began to approach the colchonera surface, but were still too imprecise to really hurt the locals. Falcao received a ball in the area, and, in pivot, struck. Oblak, however, captured the ball (60th). In the wake, Benaglio released a superb parade on Griezmann (61). Sofiane Diop and Khéphren Thuram-Ulien came into play (64). But little by little, the Colchoneros took again the ascendant, in spite of a very good Mbadengo in the midfield, only good news of the match for Henry. Benaglio issued a superb parade on this remote attempt of Thomas (78th). A little help from fate for Monaco: Savic touched the ball with his hand in his area, and was sent off (82). But Falcao missed the penalty completely, not framing! It was then necessary to announce a free-kick of Tielemans well out by Oblak (87th), and a strike of Falcao who pbaded close to the frame (90e + 3). The Rouge et Blanc ended at least on a good note. The Atlético de Madrid ensures its pbadage in eighths, while AS Monaco is sentenced to the last place …

Relive the film of the match on our live commented.

The man of the match: Griezmann (7): the Frenchman answered again present. Always in this role of creator, dictating the tempo of the game and creating a lot of differences, whether through individual actions or combinations with its partners. He scored the second goal colchonero (24th) and is at the origin of most dangerous situations of Atlético. Between the lines, we do not do better, and he did not skimp on the efforts when it was necessary to exercise a rather high pressing on the Monegasque defense …

Atlético de Madrid

Oblak (6): how to evaluate his match if he had almost nothing to do? It was not until the 60th minute to see the Slovenian intervene, on a rather soft and axial strike Radamel Falcao. So he was content to attend the meeting from his cages, giving some guidance to his defense from time to time. Even on the penalty of Falcao, he did not have to use! It still leaves a nice parade on Tielemans at the very end of the match (87th).

Arias (6.5): the Colombian right-back continues its rise in power, chaining the good performances on the right flank of the defense. Very serene in the duels, he did not let anything pbad and chained the round trips in his hall, lending a hand to offensive players colchoneros. He offered a lot of depth to his team and allowed the game to be cleared to free space for his attackers.

Lucas Hernandez (6.5): still aligned in the axis of the defense because of the various injuries, the world champion was excellent, in line with his match against Barça. And against a team AS Monaco as weak, its aggressiveness and its reading of the game have logically been even more highlighted. Some good interventions too, like this center of Grandsir cut at the first post (65th).

Savic (4): like the rest of his team-mates in the rearguard, he was not really worried during the rare and shy Monegasque offensives. He was able to set foot when it was necessary, while being good in the recovery. He did, however, start having some trouble marking Falcao when the Colombian came into play in the second half, but El Tigre was finally unable to gain any final influence over him. He is then sent off, offering a penalty to Monaco because of a hand in the surface (82).

Filipe Luis (6): practically free from his defensive responsibilities given the low adversity of offensive players, he was able to climb with a lot of freedom. He thus often ended the actions in the surface of the club of the Principality, combining with Lemar and Griezmann. Globally solid defensively even if Grandsir sometimes took it in default.

Rodri (7): the boss of the Atleti midfielder has, as usual since his arrival this summer, been imperial. Still giving the impression of playing in an armchair, the former Villarreal was the first launching pad offensives team Cholo Simeone. He occupies the spaces, proposes solutions to the defenders and organizes the game perfectly.

Thomas (6): in the double-pivot colchonero, the Ghanaian lived a rather quiet evening as the vis-à-vis were weak. He has recovered many balloons without necessarily having to work hard, and then ensured his transmissions without worries. More in a role of line breaker than organizer, unlike Rodri, he was a little less sharp than usual.

Koke (6): from the beginning of the match, he puts his team in the best conditions with this goal – certainly helped by Badiashile – from a shot from outside (2nd). He was then content to play clean and to be fair in his game. He was also given an intense pressing to prevent the revival of AS Monaco, and it was rather effective since the defenders and Monegasque circles have lost a lot of balloons. Vitolo (5.5) took his place at the break but could not show much, a little lonely on his side.

Lemar (6): against his former club, the international tricolor has alternated between the left side and the right side, showing a much better face than he had shown in recent weeks. Very active and participative in the development of actions, he did what was expected of him. It was however a little more discreet in the second period, weighing much less on the game Madrid. It must be said that his team had dropped the pace and was less offensive. Nicola Kalinic replaced him in the 62nd minute but did not have any situations to put himself ahead.

Correa (6.5): aligned with Diego Costa's place alongside Grizi, the Argentine answered present. A veritable poison for Monegasque defenders, it has multiplied calls and races between lines. He humiliated a rival before offering a caviar to Antoine Griezmann on the second goal colchonero (24th). He too has a little disappeared in the second period. Simeone took it out to get in Saúl in the 69th, and the Spanish international was mostly content to defend.

Griezmann (7): see above.

AS Monaco

Benaglio (4): in the first seconds, he was caught by a Koke strike countered by Badiashile (1-0, 2nd), before being beaten by Griezmann (2-0, 24th). He then boxed several balls and made a good deal against the French world champion (61st). He also repelled a heavy shot by Thomas Partey (78th).

Raggi (2): the captain of the ASM was in trouble against the game between the lines of Atlético de Madrid. He found himself in good position (56th), but in general, he missed impact. The Italian defender has been caught in many duels, and his slowness against the opposing strikers did not help.

Jemerson (3): his slip was fatal on Correa's hook leading to Griezmann's goal (24th, 2-0). He was then eliminated too easily by Filipe Luis late in the first period (42nd). He raised the bar in the second half as Atletico de Madrid had fewer chances.

Badiashile (3,5): the young defender Monegasque saw his match turn into a nightmare quickly since he countered a Koke shot directly into his net (1-0, 2nd). He tried to catch up (45th + 1), without success. Finally, he defended well in the second half against Correa and Griezmann.

Biancone (3): the second goal came from his side when Correa eliminated Jemerson (2-0, 24th). Offensively, he tried to make a difference without being able to make a difference. Speeding up, he took a yellow card for a foul on Correa (68th). A delicate match for the young right back.

Mbadengo (5.5): In midfield, he tried to revive his own, but his inexperience was noticeable against the opposing backgrounds. However, he made a better second half, moving forward and finding his partners in a good position. A first correct tenure for the young Monegasque.

Tielemans (3): the Belgian midfielder was in trouble throughout the match, just like his partners. He tried to feed his attackers, without them being in a good position. Exceeded, he was warned at the return of the locker room for a fault on Correa (54th). At the end of the match, he got a penalty after a savic side (82), before Oblak (86th, 89th).

Chadli (2): the Belgian multiplied the bad choices. He has however made a good comeback on a hot action of Atlético de Madrid (27th). He also misused the set pieces. A really complex match for the Belgian international. Replaced by Diop (63rd), who did not have any actions to put in the tooth after it came into play.

Golovin (4): revelation of the last World Cup, the Russian was in big trouble tonight, unable to bring the danger in the opposite camp. In the second half, he tried to bring, without being able to be decisive. Replaced by Thuram-Ulien (63rd), which brought a little vivacity on the ground.

Grow (5): the former Troyes player has multiplied the races, but the last gesture failed him several times. However, he remained the Monegasque most prominent offensively, just like a good center for Sylla (49th). A decent match for him, who has multiplied the races in his right lane.

Sylla (3): the Monegasque striker was little found in the first act. He did, however, speak his speed to try to bring the danger in the Spanish camp, without managing to worry his opponents. A difficult match for the young scorer of the ASM. Replaced by Falcao (55th), who had a first opportunity five minutes later, but Oblak has well anticipated (60). At the end of the match, he hit a penalty that he totally missed (82).