Showing posts with label Antoine Griezmann. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antoine Griezmann. Show all posts

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Bayern Muenchen v Atletico Madrid - Preview

Pep Guardiola - Getty Images
Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid will not sit back against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

Atletico arrived in Germany with a 1-0 advantage after Saul Niguez's first-leg goal at the Vicente Calderon.

Simeone said his side will look to kill off Bayern by scoring an away goal instead of trying to play for a 0-0 draw, which would take them through.

"I'm only interested in winning," he said. "That is what I prepare for."

While Bayern are five-time European champions, Atletico are trying to win the competition for the first time.

"We are going to be true to our style," said Simeone. "We will be ourselves. Whatever happens will depend on the mental strength of both teams.

"In the first leg we played in a way that feels good for us. On Tuesday we will see how strong both Bayern and we are."

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola will take over as Manchester City manager in the summer. However since losing the 2014 semi-final to Real Madrid, Bayern have won 11 successive home matches in the Champions League.

Victory on Tuesday would match Manchester United's record from 2006-09.

"We're very, very strong at home," said Bayern's World Cup-winning defender Jerome Boateng. "That's what we're counting on.'

While Bayern are on the brink of winning their fourth successive Bundesliga title, Atletico remain firmly in the hunt in La Liga.

Simeone's side are level on points with leaders Barcelona with two matches of the domestic league season remaining.

Former Liverpool forward Fernando Torres said the team are reaping the rewards of their work ethic and unity.

"We die for each other," said the 32-year-old, a Champions League winner with Chelsea in 2012. "It's a battlefield out there.

"We are going out to win. We live the excitement of playing match by match and the situation we are in."

Josep Guardiola
We mustn't think about how many goals we must score. We need think first about defending well and controlling the game. We want possession and we want goals. Atleti defend very well, but they are also going good up front. It is complicated to play a team like them. They know each other so very well. We will create chances, if perhaps not too many.

It will be my last game in the Champions League here in Munich and I have always been treated absolutely wonderfully. In Germany you play a little differently, and I tried to adapt some things. I have learned a lot here. We have achieved a lot during my time here, but it is always really difficult to make the final of this competition.

Diego Simeone
Football is a fantastic sport and there's a variety of ways to play it, depending on the players at your disposal. Our work over the last few years is paying dividends now. We have experienced guys mixed with some new players and they are all really great to work with them. That is reflected by our results.

We were sharp in the first leg and we will see how sharp we are tomorrow; and how sharp Bayern are. Every game is different. We want to win, that's our plan. We want to play well and enjoy our success. But above all, what matters most is that we make the final.



Sunday, 13 December 2015

Neville Gets Point at Eibar


Gary Neville is still without a win in two games since taking over as Valencia head coach after his new club had a man sent off and needed a fortuitous late goal to rescue a 1-1 draw at Eibar on Sunday.

Neville was a surprise appointment to replace Nuno Espírito Santo and his first game in charge was Wednesday’s 2-0 reverse at home to Olympique Lyonnais that ended Valencia’s hopes of advancing to the Champions League knockout round.

MBM report: Gary Neville’s first La Liga match ended in a draw, with Eibar missing a penalty before ten-man Valencia scored an extremely fortuitous equaliser

The former England defender presided over another disappointing performance at Eibar, although they missed a number of key players, including captain Dani Parejo and midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, through injury and suspension.

Eibar had the better chances in the first half and took a deserved lead moments before the break when Sergi Enrich finished from close range after good work down the right from Ander Capa.

Valencia’s hopes of getting back into the game were dealt a blow in the 63rd minute when defender Lucas Orban was dismissed for an innocuous-looking challenge on Dani García in the penalty area.

Jaume Doménech saved Saúl Berjón’s spot kick and Borja Bastón blasted the rebound over the bar with the visitors’ goal at his mercy.

Valencia levelled five minutes from time when the ball ricocheted off André Gomes and Eibar’s David Junca and squirted past home keeper Asier Riesgo into the net.

Eibar defender Ivan Ramis was then shown a straight red card for felling Paco Alcácer when the Valencia forward was through on goal in the second minute of added time.

Valencia have 21 points in eighth after 15 matches, while Eibar, who have one of the smallest budgets in La Liga, also have 21 points in 10th.

Thursday, 26 November 2015

Griezmann Goals Beat Galatasary


Atlético Madrid eased through to the Champions League last 16 with a game to spare and eliminated Galatasaray after Antoine Griezmann’s double secured a 2-0 win at home to the Turkish side in Group C.

Atlético, the beaten finalists in 2014, needed only a draw to progress and their comfortable victory at the Vicente Calderón put them level on 10 points at the top of the group with Benfica and ahead of the Portuguese club on goal difference.

Benfica, who host Atlético in the sixth and final round of games next month, fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at the Kazakh side Astana earlier on Wednesday. Galatasaray have four points in third place, with Astana on three in fourth.

Atlético are appearing in Europe’s elite club competition for the third season in a row for the first time and turned in another solid display in the Spanish capital. Griezmann, who got both goals in September’s 2-0 win at Galatasaray on matchday one, put Diego Simeone’s side ahead in the 13th minute when he was left unmarked and headed a Gabi cross firmly past Fernando Muslera.

Gabi was again the provider for the France forward’s second in the 65th minute, a tap in from close range that snuffed out any hopes of a Galatasaray comeback


Monday, 23 November 2015

Koke Earns Atleti Betis Win


An early goal by Koke gave Atlético Madrid victory at Real Betis which moved them above Real Madrid and into second place in La Liga on Sunday.

Koke slotted home a rebound after the Betis keeper, Antonio Adán, had saved a Fernando Torres shot with seven minutes gone.

Despite some slick attacking play, Atlético missed great chances to build on the lead with Antoine Griezmann particularly profligate, including a late chance that came back off a post.

But the visitors were rarely threatened defensively and go above misfiring Real Madrid, who were crushed 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clásico on Saturday.

Atlético have 26 points from 12 games, four fewer than Barca and two more than Real.

“We could have scored a lot more but the important thing is the win,” Koke said after a typically hard-working team performance. “We knew it would be a tough match and the early goal made it easier for us.

“It is nothing more than an anecdote that we are second at the moment and it would be a mistake for us to think of anything more than trying to finish third. That is our target. We will concentrate on that and then see what happens.”