San Siro's Siren Call: 2015-16 UEFA Champions League

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
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California. Duh.
The Atletico guys don't even want the medals put around their necks.

Whoever came up with turning your shirt around so the player's name is in front needs to be kicked in the nuts.
 
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swiftaw

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Pot 1 for the Group draw for next season's champions league: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, PSG, Benfica, CSKA Moscow, Leicester City.
 

bosox4283

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I'm gutted. It was painful to see Juanfran weep after the loss, and to watch Torres silently cry after not achieving his dream of winning a title with his boyhood club in the biggest stage. I almost lost it when I saw Gabi, Atletico's heart and soul, break down in tears.

A few quick observations:
1. Oblak, one of the world's best keepers, did not save one penalty against PSV and Real Madrid, going 0/13. I don't know enough about a goalie's tactics, but I have to think a player of his caliber is doing something wrong to have such little success in these situations (then again, he did save Muller's penalty against Bayern which kept Atletico in the game).

2. Casemiro was fantastic, just as Simeone had forewarned. Check out his heat map -- he was all over the pitch.

3. I wanted Simeone to put Correa on, but I wasn't sure who to take off. Correa probably should have come on for Torres who, despite drawing the penalty against Pepe, had a bad night.
 

Bailey10

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Jul 6, 2013
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1. Oblak, one of the world's best keepers, did not save one penalty against PSV and Real Madrid, going 0/13. I don't know enough about a goalie's tactics, but I have to think a player of his caliber is doing something wrong to have such little success in these situations (then again, he did save Muller's penalty against Bayern which kept Atletico in the game).
He was awful in both PK shootouts. Just stands in the middle of the goal or falls weakly to a side late. Trying to read the PK taker's shot, instead of just guessing and diving extended to a post, is not working out for him.
 

bosox4283

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I suppose I'm a bit of a masochist: I just re-watched the last 15 minutes of regular time, mostly because some of the post-match Twitter commentary was that Atletico slowed down the pace too much after scoring the tying goal in the 79th minute.

I presume that Atletico's players were gassed after the goal, and that Simeone did not want to allow a last-minute Real Madrid goal. As a result, Simeone seems to have reverted to his counter-attacking, defend-at-all-cost style -- the defensive line shifts back and Atletico stops pressing with the same intensity. Hindsight is, of course, 20/20, but Atletico should have kept the foot on the gas and gone for the match in the last 15 minutes of the game. I think Simeone should have attempted to have used the momentum to go for the goal, and to use the enthusiasm his players had to stay on top of Real Madrid. I don't think sitting back was the right decision in this case (in contrast, sitting back against Barcelona or Bayern over two legs makes sense).

Edit: In nearly the last breath of the match, Saul commits a foolish foul against Bale, giving Real Madrid a free kick. It goes nowhere, and it allows Atletico to counter. Carrasco, the goal scorer, was about one step too slow in trying to break free from Ramos. Torres or Griezmann may have not scored, but Atletico was damn close to having a chance to win at the last second in a three-on-one break.
 
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bosox4283

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3. I wanted Simeone to put Correa on, but I wasn't sure who to take off. Correa probably should have come on for Torres who, despite drawing the penalty against Pepe, had a bad night.
After watching the last 10-15 minutes of regulation time, and now the first extra time period, I can say without hesitation that Correa should have come on for Torres. I recognize the fear of taking out Torres, Atletico's pride and joy, but Correa would have been fantastic against a tired Madrid. Correa, like Carrasco, shares that pace and bravery to take a player on one-on-one. Correa has wonderful quick movements, and I think this style would have been key down the stretch to break down Madrid and find a hole.

While I think Simeone made a tactical error in how he planned the last 10-15 minutes of regulation, I think Atletico played a solid first extra time (except the lack of the Correa substitution). Atletico won three or four corners. Carrasco had a few good runs. Griezmann almost went on a break if not for a strong move from Danilo.
 

Schnerres

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They lost. That´s what will stay forever.

They looked more able (physically) to deliver something, plus Real had stubstituted three times before the 80th minute and Atletico had two more changes with ET coming up (made both in last 15mins) and Real looked absolutely flat in ET. Then you have to push and not "almost go on a break", right? I don´t mean by just bringing in a special player (Correa), you have to advise your players to go for the win, to score before penalties. It just did not look that way.
I would say some of it is based on Atletico´s usual style of "hold-the-score" and not losing in big matches, although it results in wins in many cases.
Bale and Ronaldo had two guys each laying down on them to get their cramps out (that´s what happens when you get today´s players with those huge muscles which are able to sprint faster, but don´t last 120mins) and Marcelo was the same, it was ridiculous. Atletico should have pushed forward and tried to go for a goal.
 

bosox4283

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They lost. That´s what will stay forever.
As a born Red Sox fan, I've learned that pain of losing goes away, and that the victories help erase the bad moments from memory. Atletico has had four splendid seasons under Simeone -- multiple titles, competitive teams, great stories, many victories against Real Madrid and Barcelona, the development of young players. We're in a privileged place as a club: in three years, two Champions League finals and one quarterfinals (just don't remind me that we've lost to Real Madrid in all three years).

This loss stings, and will sting for quite some time, but I've actually discovered in a way that I'm more glad to be an Atletico fan after this defeat. The team has heart. The fans are passionate. The players give it their all for Simeone and the club. It's fantastic to be a part of something so exciting and so moving.