Batshuayi hands Chelsea deserved win at Atletico

Michy Batshuayi struck a dramatic winner with the last kick of the game as Chelsea inflicted Atletico Madrid’s first defeat at their new Wanda Metropolitano home yesterday with a hugely impressive 2-1 victory.

Substitute Batshuayi’s late intervention was just rewards for a dominant Chelsea display despite falling behind to Antoine Griezmann’s penalty five minutes before half-time. Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata came back to haunt Atletico on his return to the Spanish capital by nodding home Eden Hazard’s tempting cross on the hour mark.

And Batshuayi finished off a patient team move deep into stoppage time by turning home Marcos Alonso’s cross at the near post. Victory ensured Chelsea take a commanding lead at the top of Group C with six points from their opening two games ahead of Roma, who moved onto four with a 2-1 win at Azerbaijani Champions League newcomers Qarabag earlier in the day.

Atletico, by contrast, are in trouble after taking just one point from their opening two games. The presence of Diego Costa dominated much of the pre-match attention after he completed his prolonged return to Atletico from Chelsea on Tuesday.

Despite the Brazilian-born striker’s refusal to train with the Premier League champions this season it was all smiles as he greeted plenty of his former teammates in the tunnel before kick-off. However, Chelsea haven’t missed Costa so far this season as his replacement Morata has now scored seven goals in as many games.

Morata, though, hadn’t scored in six previous appearances against Atletico for Juventus and Real and passed up a series of early chances as Chelsea dominated. Twice the Spanish international pulled shots wide after excellent build-up play from the outstanding Hazard.

Hazard was starting for only the second time this season after breaking his ankle in June, but showed no signs of rust early on as he smacked a shot from outside the box off the post. Morata then finally forced Jan Oblak into a save as the Slovenian tipped his looping header over for a corner.

Chelsea’s control forced Atletico boss Diego Simeone into a tactical reshuffle as he switched from his favoured 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and was rewarded as the hosts stemmed the Chelsea tide. — AFP