Chelsea snatched a dramatic late win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night as they maintained their 100% record in the Champions League. They are now two points clear of Roma at the top of the group whom they play home and away next, thus giving them the chance to all but secure their place in the next round of the Champions League.
In the game, Alvaro Moarata cancelled out Antoine Griezmann’s penalty before substitute Michy Batshuayi struck with the final kick of the game to ensure all three points would be going back to England. The game was an incredibly interesting one that had an enthralling ending.
Here are the three things we learned following Chelsea’s 2-1 win:
Chelsea dominate Atletico
Although the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium will see some superb Champions League nights, this is one that the fans will want to forget quickly. Atleti were outplayed and outdone by a Chelsea side that put in a near-perfect away display. Defensively they were very good as they kept their opponent’s chances to a minimum and would have kept a clean-sheet had it not been for a moment of madness from David Luiz.
On the ball, they were also very intelligent as they moved it quickly and decisively to keep their opponents chasing for large parts of the game. In the final third, they were outstanding too. It was a style of domination that the Spanish fans are not used to seeing and, honestly, even the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid are unable to always dominate Atleti in that way. Perhaps the Spanish side were off-colour on the night and dwarfed by the occasion, but credit must go to Chelsea and Antonio Conte who out-manoeuvred beat their opponents at their own game.
Hazard’s return could not come soon enough
Eden Hazard was outstanding on Wednesday evening. One assist for Alvaro Morata’s goal does not convey the level of skill he displayed on the left-flank throughout the game. Atletico’s Juanfran, who is a very good defender with a lot of experience, was powerless to stop the mercurial Belgian who ran riot all night out-wide.
His perfect cross allowed Morata to get the deftest of touches on the ball to make it 1-1 and get Chelsea deservedly back on level terms. While he was taken off early with the Blue’s game against Manchester City clearly on Conte’s mind, he was by far and away the best player on the pitch. Many assumed that Chelsea would be able to cope without him due to his injury which they could, but, with performances like that, it shows why he takes Chelsea from a great team into a world-class one.
Batshuayi is the man for the big occasion
It is the dream of any striker to get given the chance to score the winning goal for their side, have the team rush over to celebrate with them and hear the crowd roaring their name. While it may not have been perfect for Michy Batshuayi as he did not start the game, he wouldn’t have said no to coming on as a late-substitute and netting the winner in a Champions League game.
The youngster has struggled for game time under Conte, and when he has started it has been in cup games or when Chelsea’s need is great. However, he is proving he has a reputation for scoring very big goals. His finish against Atleti last night won all three points for Chelsea in the Champions League, thus inflicting a first defeat for Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The Belgian also scored the Premier League-clinching goal last season as he struck late on against a stubborn West Brom in May. Teams will be becoming very wary of the striker’s ability and temperament as he continues to prove that he is a menace from the bench.
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