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Atletico Madrid logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 30, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Benfica

1-2

Correa (23')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Gaitan (36'), Cuedes (51')

Live Commentary: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Benfica - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Atletico Madrid lose 2-1 to Benfica for the Rojiblancos' first home Champions League defeat for 19 months.
2

Atletico Madrid suffered their first Champions League defeat at the Vicente Calderon for 19 months after losing 2-1 to Benfica tonight.

Debutant Angel Correa opened the scoring on 23 minutes, but 13 minutes later, against the run of play, Nicolas Gaitan levelled up with a sweetly-struck half-volley.

Atletico were the better team after the break but, again, a swift counter-attack saw Gaitan set up Goncalo Cuedes, and he made no mistake.

Below, relive the drama with our live text commentary.


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With Porto beating Chelsea on Tuesday, we now look to see whether or not Benfica can keep up with their Portuguese rivals by pulling off a scalp of their own. I'm Shane and welcome to our live text commentary as Rui Vitoria's side make the trip to 2014 runners-up Atletico Madrid. It's a top-of-the-table contest in Group C after both sides managed victories in their respective openers. Let's see how they managed it.

Right, how did Atletico get on in their opener away to Galatasaray then? Well they said it was hell, but it was much more like heaven. Antoine Griezmann scored twice in the opening 25 minutes to seal a 2-0 win in Istanbul. Simple, right? Kinda. They did suffer a few scares at the other end, with Lukas Podolski missing a few sitters. Still, they got the win, and with it the points, but they'll hope for a better defensive display this time around.

And Vitoria's men? Well, they welcomed Kazakhstan outfit Astana to Lisbon and, in truth, they toiled a little against the minnows. Nicolas Gaitan opened the scoring on 51 minutes, before Konstantin Mitroglu doubled the advantage on the hour mark to register a 2-0 win. Again, the points were perhaps a little more important than the performance, given opening-night nerves might have been evident, but the Primeira Liga side will want both tonight.

Right, let's get into some team news, shall we? Why not. Stay tuned my friends.

ATLETICO XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Giminez, Luis; Gabi, Tiago, Oliver, Correa; Griezmann, Martinez

BENFICA XI: Júlio César; N. Semedo, Luisão, Jardel, Eliseu; A. Almeida, Samaris, Gonçalo Guedes, Nico Gaitán; Jiménez, Jonas

ATLETICO SUBS: Moya, Savic, Torres, Siqueira, Saul, Carrasco, Vietto

BENFICA SUBS: Ederson, Fejsa, Silvio, Mitroglu, Pizzi, Talisca, Carcela-Gonzalez

Right, we'll start with visitors, because it's a) polite and b) I haven't calculated how many changes Atletico have made as of yet. Mr Vitoria makes just one change from the 3-0 win over Paços de Ferreira. The unlucky chap is striker Kostas Mitroglu, who drops out for Raul Jimenez. He partners Jonas up top. Danger man Nicolas Gaitan is also included.

On to Atleti now and Simeone makes two changes from the 1-0 defeat by Villarreal at the weekend. Jesus Gamez drops out at right-back for the returning Juanfran, while highly-rated midfielder Angel Correa comes in for Saul Niguez. Griezmann lines up in attack, alongside Jackson Martinez and NOT Fernando Torres, who is one away from 100 goals for Atleti.

It's surprising to see Jackson Martinez in the first XI. The Colombian has plenty of previous experience against Benfica, having signed from Porto in the summer, but he has endured a troubled start to life at the Vicente Calderon, scoring just once in seven appearances. He has faced Benfica nine times in his career, finding the net on three occasions. That's one every three games if, like me, you stunk maths class out with idiocy.

Simeone is convinced that his £25m man will come good, though. Here's what the Argentine coach told UEFA.com pre-match: "It's normal that some players need time to adapt to a new team. Some have come from other leagues and other positions even. All the strikers have scored goals and Jackson [Martínez] will score too."

DID YOU KNOW? Atletico aren't bad at home when it comes to European competitions. For instance, did you know that Atleti have won 21 of their last 24 European adventures at the Vicente Calderon? Vitoria's troops are right up against it unfortunately. They won all three of their group-stage outings here last term, scoring 10 goals and conceding none. Formidable doesn't cut it, folks.

Normally we'd compare head-to-heads at this stage, but on this occasion it's like comparing head-to-heads between Ichabod Crane and Gwyneth Paltrow in Se7en because, well, there is none to compare. That being said, Atletico's record against Portuguese opposition is a little hit and miss in this competition. They've faced Porto on six occasions; winning two and losing two.

PREDICTION! Right, we're, like, 20 minutes from showtime. Let's get a prediction wrong, and I'm on a 2-1 home victory this evening. Atleti's home record in Europe must count for something at this stage, but Benfica will be about as much of a pushover as The Big Show, because, you know, he's big and hard to push over.

Let's see what the wonderful world of Twitter is saying.

It's unclear who Cathy is supporting tonight.


Mr Mata loves Benfica too it seems; so much so that he's asking should he fling himself in the canal if it goes pear-shaped. My Portuguese isn't the best, but that's the jist of it we think.


Again, our Portuguese is a bit rusty, but Bruno Essex is saying if it's still 0-0 by the 35-minute mark then he won't be tweeting whilst sober anymore.




Yep, just five minutes to go before we're underway. Excited? Me too. It's been an interesting week of European football, with more shocks than Marv from Home Alone 2, and let's hope for another goal fest this evening.

KICKOFF: Right, we're off. Atletico, despite being the home team, line up in their navy kit, because Benfica have awkward colours.

Atleti dominating possesion so far but they're struggling to break down the visitors' defence thus far. Diego Sieone is up already. He won't be sitting down too often I don't think.

Very decent ball by Gabi but it's just over the head of Martinez and Benfica survive. It's a big night for the Colombian against an opposition which he is very familiar with.

CLOSE! This isn't far away at all and it's a brilliant run from Jonas, skipping by a few challenges before drilling just wide of Oblak's goal. There's a limited atmosphere. It's strange.

CLOSE! Brilliant defensive header from Jardel who flicks it away from the head Godin at the crucial moment. It's gone for a corner.

CLOSE! Oh my this is so close, as Tiago's wonderful side-foot volley is deflected just wide of Cesar's post via the hand of Almeida. Tiago is furious; he wants a penalty but he didn't get one. Could've gone either way.

BLOCK! Brilliant reading from Jardel as he anticipates Griezmann's movement and gets himself in the way of the Frenchman's effort. He's been excellent so far in this first 14 minutes, denying two certain goals already.

OFF THE LINE! Oblak owes Filipe Luis. He comes haring out of his goal for no reason. He's beaten there by Goncalo Cuedes, who turns and looks to lob him but the ex-Chelsea man clears off the line.

We're 19 minutes deep and this one really could go either way if early indications are anything to go by. Both sides have enjoyed decent chances so far.

CHANCE! Best chance of the game bar none as Gabi floats a wonderful ball into the area, but Martinez's first-time volley in the box sails over the bar. Should've scored. Simple as.

GOAL! Atletico 1-0 Benfica (Angel Correa)

We could see a goal coming for a while, and it's Angel Correa on his Champions League debut. Juanfran floats a decent ball into the box, and Griezmann's cushioned touch into the path of Correa is shinned home by the youngster. What a touch by Griezmann though.

OFF THE POST! Oh dear. Mr Martinez could, and should, have added a second as Juanfran's cross is headed against the post by the Colombian.

BOOKING: Luisao goes into the book for a meaty challenge on Griezmann. Looked harsh.

CHANCE! Oh god it's only Martinez, who picks up a hat-trick of missed chances when failing to prod Griezmann's ball beyond the oncoming Cesar. Correa then blazes over the bar from the rebound, but the flag was raised for him.

Twelve minutes from the break and Atletico look very, very comfortable. It could and should be about 4-0. No exaggeration needed.

GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-1 Benfica (Nico Gaitan)

Where did this come from? Personally, I've got no idea. It's a good ball in from Nélson Semedo and it evades everybody, and Gaitan, unmarked at the back post, thrashes a half volley past Oblak. Game on.

BOOKING: Bit of a good old-fashioned melee ensues here Martinez feels that Eliseu is playing acting and tries to pick him up. Poor Martinez can do nothing right tonight.

We're three minutes from the break and, somehow, it's level! Jackson Martinez will feel a little subdued in the dressing room no doubt. It'd be 4-1 if he had taken all of his chances.

HALF TIME: Atletico 1-1 Benfica

Lord knows how it's 1-1. Atletico have dominated and took the lead through Correra, but Nicolas Gaitan, out of nowhere, levelled up with a back-post volley. It's been a little feisty and we've got a cracking second half in store. Trust.

We're back underway folks and we've got a cracking second half to look forward to here. I think. Let's hope so anyway.

Team doctors in places like Spain and Portugal are a lot more respectful, aren't they? Why do Premier League doctors run on in tracksuits when their exotic counterparts all wear suits?

GOAL! Atletico 1-2 Benfica (Goncalo Cuedes)

Would you believe it? Gaitan spearheads a swift break before finding the unmarked Cuedes, who side foots past Oblak for a second. Wow.

It's a big ask for Atletico no. Can they get back into it? Of course, but will they? That's the big question. I wonder if we'll see Torres soon.

SAVE! Brilliant goalkeeping from Julio Cesar. He has to adjust instantly to deny Martinez, before springing up immediately to deny Correra with the rebound. Superb.

CHANCE! Atletico are applying the pressure big time now and Martinez misses another chance. Sigh.

SUB: Oliver Torres makes way for Saul Niguez and that's the first change by Simeone. Surely we'll see Torres before long?

Gaitan whips a fabulous cross-field ball for Jimenez, who looks to play in Cuedes along the face of goal but his cross is just a tiny bit over-hit. They look very dangerous on the counter.

SUB: Luciano Vietto replaces Griezmann, and NOT Martinez! Simeone is brave.

Just a reminder that Simeone's men have never lost a home Champions League game. Like, never! That record is under major threat but Torres is coming on I think. The game's gone a little flat it must be said.

SUB: Here's Mr Torres, who replaces Angel Correra. Does Simone have Martinez anytime scorer or something?

SHOT! Torres, hunting his 100th goal for Atleti, in two different spells of course, drills a shot straight at Cesar. Promising start.

Right, we've got 10 minutes to go and, as it stands, Benfica are moving comfortably top at the summit of Group C!

Decent position for Atletico now. Torres goes down outside the box under a challenge from Jardel and the hosts will look to whip this into the box.

Comes to nothing as the brilliant Jardel heads clear. This has been really disappointing from the hosts.

Time continuing to run out. Four minutes to play. Dare I suggest that Atleti look comfortable?

Atletico look defeated, and deflated. We're in the last minute of the 90 and it's Benfica on the attack as Giminez concedes a corner.

Superb punch-out by Cesar as he averts the danger from Gabi's corner. Still 1-2.

FULL TIME: Atletico 1-2 Benfica

And that's it! Benfica inflict a first ever home Champions League defeat on Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid! Ever. Goncalo Cuedes scored the winner early in the second half after Gaitan cancelled out Correra's opener. It was a game which Jackson Martinez will want to forget, like, as soon as possible. He was dreadful. Anywho, that's us. Stay tuned for rating and analysis shortly. Until then, take care.

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Atletico Madrid's coach Diego Simeone looks on prior to kick-off in the Champions League semi-final first leg match against Chelsea on April 22, 2014
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