Guedes earns Benfica comeback win at Atlético
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Article summary
Atlético Madrid 1-2 Benfica
Benfica wonder boy Gonçalo Guedes struck the winner six minutes into the second half as Benfica claimed a second Group C victory.
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- The Portuguese champions come from behind to make it two wins in two
- Gonçalo Guedes, 18, and Ángel Correa, 20, score first UEFA Champions League goals
- Only Atlético's second defeat in 25 games in UEFA competition at the Vicente Calderón
- Next matches: Atlético v Astana, Galatasaray v Benfica (21 October)
Clinical Benfica made it two wins from two in UEFA Champions League Group C as they recovered from falling behind to consign Atlético Madrid to a rare European home defeat.
It all looked to be going to plan for the hosts when Ángel Correa marked his first Atlético start with the opener, but Nicolás Gaitán had other ideas. The Argentinian international pulled one back from nothing before the break, then teed up 18-year-old Gonçalo Guedes to make it 2-1 soon after the restart.
That proved enough despite a finale every bit as frenetic as the beginning. Jonas dragged a fifth-minute shot wide for the visitors before a flurry of Atlético corners saw Tiago, José María Giménez and Correa all go close.
Guedes was denied by Filipe Luís on the line, then Rojiblancos forward Jackson Martínez volleyed over when well placed – so an opening goal at either end was no surprise. It arrived via Correa in the 23rd minute, the 20-year-old latching onto a cushioned Antoine Griezmann pass and firing in.
The lead lasted all of 13 minutes until Gaitán rifled home following a ball over from the right. And Rui Vitória's side carried that momentum into the second half, completing the turnaround when Gaitán spearheaded a counterattack down the left, feeding the 18-year-old Guedes who would not be denied.
Atlético pushed for an equaliser but Júlio César was equal to everything they could throw at him, meaning it was the Lisbon team who took the spoils and control of the group.
Key player: Nicolás Gaitán
The attacking midfielder was lively all night in possession, helping the Portuguese outfit overhaul their hosts after falling behind. His fine first-time effort from a harmless-looking cross levelled matters, before a perfect through ball on the counter invited Guedes to fire in the winner.
Where the match was won
With Atlético seemingly in control at 1-0, credit must go to Benfica for stemming the tide. The equaliser wrested the initiative from Atleti and thereafter Vitória's men simply refused to give it back. Atlético were unable to recover and eventually ran out of ideas.
The kids are alright
Correa was one of three 20-year-olds in the Rojiblancos XI with Óliver Torres and José María Giménez, while Saúl Ñíguez, 20, and Luciano Vietto, 21, featured from the bench. For the Eagles, 21-year-old Nélson Semedo provided the cross for Gaitán's equaliser while teenager Guedes was the youngest player on the pitch.
Reaction
Diego Simeone, Atlético coach
It was a great game and our opponents did very well in defence. We had chances to stretch our lead in the first half but it wasn't to be and they scored through Gaitán. After going 2-1 down we tried to score but couldn't equalise. Benfica did a great job and they deserved to win. We need to focus on our finishing. It's obviously a bad result but we always had the right attitude. We are second in the group so we're relaxed and we have to wait for the next round of matches to see how the group pans out.
Rui Vitória, Benfica coach
We showed concentration and aggression for 90 minutes. Then, with a little bit of inspiration from the players, we were able to get the win. When things go like this, the coach has to be happy. We knew how to battle and it ended up being a great European night for Benfica. We still have a long way to go. This was an important victory, but the worst thing we can do is to start thinking we have already achieved something. We know we have to keep working and we know what we still have to do, but for now we will savour this win over a team who were finalists two years ago.
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