The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
From byline, Karim steals headlines
Benzema’s touchline magic sends Real through to the UCL final after two early strikes from Atletico
IN THE first leg of their Champions League semifinal last week, Real Madrid’s fans unfurled a banner meant to remind Atlético Madrid and its fans of Real’s recent dominance over their city rivals in the tournament. “Decidme qué se siente,” it read. “Tell me how it feels.”
Just before Wednesday night’s second leg at Vicente Calderón Stadium, Atlético’s fans gave their response: “Orgullosos de no ser como vosotros,” their banner said. “Proud to not be like you.”
For the next quarter of an hour, at least, Atlético’s players did much more than make their fans proud. They also created a belief that they all might be celebrating the mother of all European farewells to their cherished stadium by staging a spectacular comeback. But despite two goals in the first 16 minutes, Atlético had to settle for a 2-1 win on the night that was not enough to overcome their 3-0 deficit from the first leg.
Atlético jumped out to a perfect start. In the 12th minute, Saúl Ñíguez opened the scoring with a firm header at the near post off a corner kick. Three minutes later, Fernando Torres was tripped in the penalty area by Raphaël Varane, Real’s French defender. As Antoine Griezmann, who last year missed a crucial penalty in the Champions League final against Real, prepared to take the kick, the crowd chanted in Spanish, “Yes you can!” This time, he was more fortunate. Griezmann slipped in his run-up and Keylor Navas, Real’s goalkeeper, touched the ball, but it still ended up in the back of the net.
Suddenly, the daunting task of overturning last week’s deficit appeared in reach. But instead of shocking Real, this early double blow helped awaken the team. After Griezmann’s goal, Real’s Luka Modric and Isco took charge of the midfield, pinning back Atlético and increasingly threatening its keeper, Jan Oblak.
In the 42nd minute Karim Benzema, Real’s French forward, crafted a goal out of nowhere to puncture the hopes of the home team. He snaked past three defenders before laying the ball back for Toni Kroos. Oblak parried Kroos’s initial shot, but he was then helpless when the ball fell back at the feet of Isco, who scored from close range. In the second half, Atlético created a few good chances but were repeatedly thwarted by Navas. In the 67th minute, Navas produced a spectacular double save, beating away Yannick Carrasco’s shot and then a powerful header from Kevin Gameiro. Navas’s performance secured advancement for Real, but also probably bolstered his own value amid speculation that Real would soon renew its bid for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, after a botched transfer attempt in 2015.
In their most recent encounters in the Champions League — including last year’s final — Atlético has come tantalizingly close to beating Real. This time, however, Atlético left itself with a mountain to climb after producing an uncharacteristically meek performance last week, when they allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to score three times.
A decade ago, a Madrid derby at this stage of Europe’s main club competition would have been unthinkable.
But since taking over as Atlético’s manager in late 2011, Diego Simeone has rebuilt the team with a budget that is dwarfed by that of Real.
What Atlético has lacked in individual talent, it has made up for with team spirit and structure, built around a tough defense and a counterattacking style now led by Griezmann, the French international who previously played for Real Sociedad.
But stars like Ronaldo have spearheaded Real’s progress in the Champions League — he scored five times against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. NYT
Pakistan reached 227 for three at lunch on the second day of the third and final Test against the West Indies.
on eight off 60 deliveries at the interval.
West Indies, though, have only themselves to blame, and particularly Shane Dowrich, for not getting rid of Misbah soon after his arrival in the middle. Having put down Babar Azam off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo the day before, the wicketkeeper was inexplicably wrong-footed and failed to hold on to a low chane before the visiting skipper had scored, to the exasperation of Holder the suffering bowler.
BRIEF SCORES:
Pakistan 227 for 3 in 99 overs (Azhar 122 not out, Azam 55) vs WI.