THRILLERS IN THE OFFING
madrid — As a red-hot Antoine Griezmann hopes to keep Atletico Madrid’s faint Champions League hopes alive at Stamford Bridge, the stage is also set for the Frenchman to showcase his talents to a host of Premier League suitors.
Atletico need to beat Chelsea in London on Tuesday and hope Roma don’t beat Champions League debutants Qarabag in the Italian capital if they are to make the last 16 for a fifth consecutive season.
Champions League action returns with some more thrilling encounters, including Borussia Dortmund vs Tottenham and Sevilla vs Liverpool.
Spurs can take plenty of stock from their 3-1 win over Real Madrid in their most recent European Cup encounter despite the fact that they travel to Germany on the back of a 2-0 loss to bitter rivals Arsenal in the Premier League. A victory against Borussia Dortmund would secure the north London club their place in the knockout rounds, although with Dortmund needing to win their last two matches, a positive result is far from guaranteed.
Another English club Liverpool make the trip to Spain to face Sevilla in a topof-the-table Group E encounter with the Reds having a one-point advantage against their opponents.
Also in action are Manchester City, who are looking to make it five wins from five in Group F to book their place in the last-16 as a top-seeded team as they prepare to host Feyenoord.
Real Madrid will be looking for a response as they travel to minnows Apoel Nicosia on the back of a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid in La Liga while their European loss to Spurs will still be ringing in the ears.
Another key match will see Bayern Munich taking on Paris Saint-Germain at home.
The financial blow an early exit would bring to Atletico, who moved into the new 310 million euro ($369 million) Wanda Metropolitano stadium earlier this season, could precipitate Griezmann’s departure from the Spanish capital. But for his loyalty to Atletico and in particular coach Diego Simeone, Griezmann could have already been out the door last summer.
A number of sides, led by Manchester United, seemed willing to meet his 100 million euro buyout clause, but when Atletico’s appeal against a transfer ban was rejected in June Griezmann agreed to stay on.
Griezmann admitted at the time it would have been “dirty” to walk out on Atletico when they couldn’t replace him since it is they who propelled him into the European football elite after signing him from Real Sociedad in 2014. That loyalty hasn’t been wholly rewarded however, with many Atletico fans unhappy at Griezmann’s frequent flirting with other sides, including La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona, often via the French press.
“For months now my name has come out linked with Manchester United,” Griezmann wrote in his newly-released autobiography ‘Behind the Smile’.
Meanwhile, Manchester United will be without Nemanja Matic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Tuesday’s Champions League group match against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford, manager Jose Mourinho said.
Serbian midfielder Matic limped off with a muscle problem at Watford last week but started in United’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Arsenal on Saturday. Mourinho said he will not risk the 29-year-old for the match, with United requiring a point to secure top spot in Group A. — AFP, Agencies