For the second quarter-final of the Champions League, RB Leipzig and Atlético de Madrid faced off against José Alvalade. And it was Julian Nagelsmann’s men who won 2-1 and will face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.
A second ticket to the last square in play. The day after Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 win over Atalanta Bergamo, the second quarter-final of the 2019-2020 Champions League was played on Thursday night on the pitch of Lisbon’s José Alvalade. RB Leipzig, who fell to Tottenham in the round of 16 (1-0, 3-0), defeated Atlético Madrid, who had eliminated title holder Liverpool in the previous round (1-0, 3-2). And inevitably, the Parisians were going to have an eye on this match since the winner was going to challenge the club of the French capital in the semifinals.
While Felix and Morata started the match on the bench for Madrid, the Colchoneros struggled to get back into their match, with the locals on paper taking possession of the ball. Little by little, Diego Simeone’s players backed away and Halstenberg got the first opportunity with an unframed half-volley (4th). But in pain, Costa and his team-mates recovered, first with a header from Savic (10th) and then a parade from Gulacsi on a strike by Carrasco (13th). From then on, both formations sought to create danger, but the defenders did a good job.
Atlético cracked in the 88th minute…
For example, Llorente and Poulsen were really isolated at the front, while Costa had to pick him up to see the light of day. And finally, the first period ended with a header from Upamecano on a corner, well captured by Oblak (45′-2). After a first act without a goal, we expected a little more spectacle and madness when we returned from the locker room. And Julian Nagelsmann’s men were knocking fast. On the right side, Sabitzer applied himself and found Olmo perfectly who placed his header for the opening score (51st, 1-0). With his team led, Diego Simeone began to bring new blood with the entry of Joel Felix. But the opportunities didn’t come. Until the 70th minute of play.
The Portuguese international returned to the box and was mowed down by Klostermann. The referee did not hesitate and designated the penalty spot. The former Benfica player converted (71st, 1-1). Physically, the Colchoneros took the upper hand, and the RBL players suffered a little more. But they didn’t falter. Better yet, Adams’ shot, deflected by Savic, ended up in the back of the net in the 88th minute (2-1)! Behind, Morata and his team insisted on snatching the extension, to no avail. RB Leipzig won 2-1 and joined Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. The two teams will challenge each other on Tuesday night for a ticket to the final.
The man of the match, Upamecano (9): opposed to Diego Costa in numerous aerial duels, the French defender did not fail to respond by winning countless balls in front of the Spaniard and others, to the point of getting the striker out of his hinges (66th). He has sometimes put too much intensity, resulting in some avoidable fouls, but that has not tarnished his overall performance. And even in the raise, short or long, it was perfect from start to finish. An XXL performance for the Frenchman tonight.
RB Leipzig
- Gulacsi (6.5): The Hungarian goalkeeper had to relax in the 10th minute on savic’s header, finally well caught. He was decisive two minutes later on this dangerous flat foot of Carrasco, with this dive horizontally. Very reassuring in his interventions tonight, despite the penalty that he did not prevent from being transformed.
- Klostermann (7): The German colossus reassured his own at his right axial position, imposing his strong jig. He revived, like Upamecano, very cleanly, through exhausting short passes for the Colchoneros. Sometimes heckled by a velocated Carrasco on his side (45th), he nevertheless managed several times to stop him in his tracks. A nice copy finally stained by this foul on Felix leading to a penalty that the Portuguese transformed himself.
- Upamecano (9): see above
- Halstenberg (7.5): The German flanker finally repositioned in a three-axial defence, was not far from opening the scoring in the 4th minute but his unscrewed strike eluded the frame. He saved his own by raising his leg higher than everyone else, touching the ball with his foot on Carrasco’s free kick (19th). Nevertheless, he had a little scare on this contact with Savic, not far from getting hurt very badly. A solid game for the German defender very comfortable technically tonight.
- Angelino (6.5): Positioned high in his left corridor, the Spanish pile did not stop taking its corridor by delivering mostly dangerous centers. Author of incessant back and forth, he created many gaps by relying in particular on his midfield. Rewarded with this assist in the final moments of the game for Adams (88′).
- Laimer (6.5): The 23-year-old midfielder has combined a lot with fellow Austrian Sabitzer, notably via a two twirling. He was one of the players to run the most on the pitch, the latter putting a constant drying on the opponent’s ball carrier. Unfortunately he was not doing the right thing by putting a head ball back in the axis that annihilated a goal action for his team. (39th) Replaced in the 72nd by Adams who gave the germans the winning goal.
- Sabitzer (7): The Austrian midfielder has, as usual, tried to steer his side’s game tonight, creating dangerous opportunities as on angelino (2nd). Because of his positioning, he clearly embarrassed the opposing midfielder pressing Saul high, his opposite tonight. He was the decisive passer on this centre for d’Olmo perfectly taken over by the latter, which allowed his team to open the scoring. Replaces at the 90th by Mukiele.
- Kampl (6): The former Dortmund player, like his partners in midfield, cleanly revived the ball by creating plenty of space with his laterals on which he often relied. He also recovered countless balls, ending Atlético’s many offensives. However, it remains the least prominent of the three circles.
- Nkunku (6): The former Paris midfielder has made his centre quality speak especially on a few perfectly curled free kicks (25th) or this corner short of leading to a goal on this missed header from Upamecano easily caught by a Jan Oblak on the trajectory. He tried to hit at best, not far from getting a penalty on this double-contact stopped by Saul. But the few bullet losses in the last few minutes were a stain. Replaced in the 83rd by Haidara who did not have time to bring his vivacity and impact.
- Poulsen (5): The Danish pile has not stopped attacking the opposing defenders, putting in place a constant drying. He also weighed in on Madrid’s defenders but never managed to create any real dangerous opportunities. Not successful, see clumsy in the last gesture tonight.
- Olmo (8): The right midfielder positioned very high tonight, made a very good pressing constantly when the Colchoneros had the ball. Rewarded by opening the score on this perfect center of Sabitzer via this devastating head leaving Oblak without solutions (51st). Nevertheless, he committed too many fouls which unsurprisingly earned him a yellow card on this big foul on Lodi (31st). Replaces in the 83rd by Schick who did not change much.
Atlético de Madrid
- Oblak (5.5): With a well-organised defence in the first half, the great Slovenian goalkeeper got a little bored before the break, except on that header from Upamecano which he caught well (45′-2). Unfortunately, on his return from the locker room, he could do nothing about Olmo’s head (51st) and Adams’ goal (88th), when he stopped Upamecano’s attempt (57th). Otherwise, he has generally responded present in the game, especially on the opposing centers.
- Trippier (5.5): The former Tottenham defender arrived at Atlético last summer and wasted no time in getting back into the game. The Englishman closed the spaces very well, sent back the centres and anticipated the opposing transmissions. Often opposed to Angelio, he did not let much pass.
- Savic (5.5): the observation is quite simple. Very solid in the first half, the Montenegrin was well in place with Jimenez to contain his opponents, like his duel in the 35th minute and this open arcade … Offensively, he even had a few opportunities (10th, 45th-4th). An interesting overall performance, until this 88th minute and that bad against on the second goal of the RBL.
- Gimenez (6): It’s not new, the Uruguayan loves to go to battle. Present everywhere, in the air and on the ground, and even offensively on corners, the 25-year-old defender has often sickened RB Leipzig’s players. Regarding the placement, he was also just except perhaps on opening Olmo’s score, where he could have been more in the axis. But a solid performance despite the defeat.
- Lodi (6.5): one of the most interesting elements in the Madrid ranks. Very offensive side, the Brazilian has traveled the kilometers in his camp but also in that of the opponent. The 22-year-old, who was also responsible for the stopped kicks, put in a fine performance. The only black spot of his night? The forgetfulness of Sabitzer in his back on the opening score of the RBL, because of the delay caused (51st).
- Koke (4.5): First positioned on one side, the Atlético Madrid captain then tipped over to the heart of the midfield. A role where he seemed more comfortable, he who limited the ball keys to find his partners. But offensively, it was never decisive. Replaced in the final moments by Felipe (90th-2).
- Herrera (3): In the four-man midfield set up by Diego Simeone, the Mexican did not exist at all, much like all Atlético midfielders. Caught up in the RBL’s game with the sequence of passes and combinations between the lines, the former FC Porto element never saw the light of day. It is therefore quite logical that he was replaced first by Joel Felix (58th). Quickly, the Portuguese international brought speed and technique, before converting the penalty of the equalization he had obtained himself (71st).
- Saul (5): Madrid’s number 8 often had the ball during this game, especially in the opposing side. And without the leather in his feet, he did his job well by quickly pressing the opponent to obstruct transmissions between the lines. Together with his team-mate Koke, they formed a good pair even if they were not exceptional.
- Carrasco (4): Returning to Atlético a few months ago after an experience in China, the Belgian winger’s goal was to bring speed and percussion to the sides. At the beginning of the match, he combined well with Lodi in particular and multiplied the duplications but then he saw less leather. Author of two strikes, the first of which was released by Gulasci (12th, 80th).
- Llorente (3): After his fine performances during the season, and especially against Liverpool in the previous round, the number 14 was expected. But at the forefront of the attack, the Spaniard was simply ghostly, especially in the first act, the fault especially to an Upamecano of the big nights. Lost balls, rough moves, fatigue: Llorente never managed to show great things, except at the end of regulation time.
- D. Costa (3): Compared to his team-mate on the front line of the Llorente attack, the former Chelsea player was inevitably more prominent, but not very much. Blocked by the RBL defence, the Spanish centre-forward had to stall and play with his back to goal. But that’s all since he had no opportunity. And he’s been caught up in duels too many times. Replaced by Morata (72nd).
