Batshuayi is the hero for Chelsea
Michy Batshuayi planted the ball in the net and the next thing anyone knew, Atletico Madrid’s club song emerged through the speakers and it was time to go home.
yes, that late. That important. The first away team to score at Atletico Madrid’s new home, let alone win.
This was a hugely impressive victory, more so for chelsea coming from behind, even more so for being thoroughly deserved. Antonio conte’s men could have had it sealed before half-time had they taken their chances.
Watching from the stand, Diego costa would have been only too aware of the changing of the guard. Not only is Alvaro Morata an outstanding replacement, Batshuayi is developing into quite the understudy, too — a scorer of vital goals, like the one that clinched the title against West Brom.
This looked simple, but wasn’t, chelsea applying late pressure and finally getting the breakthrough following a low cross by Marcos Alonso.
As for the man Batshuayi replaced in chelsea’s attack, if only all strikers were crafted as efficiently as Morata.
he scored the first away goal at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium and played a huge part in this win against the toughest opponents in Group c. Atletico may have to wait on costa’s first appearance, but they are not short of class in his absence.
he was back in black in the stand, genial now he’s got his way, and his former team-mates showed there were no hard feelings when their paths crossed in the tunnel. On the pitch, Morata continues to demonstrate why costa may not be as missed as many imagined.
This was Morata’s seventh goal in as many games for chelsea and showcased his impressive aerial ability. A lovely cross from the outstanding Eden hazard was directed past keeper Jan Oblak with delightful ease.
‘it was a very important win for us, a big test,’ said Morata. ‘it’s always a good feeling to score in a new stadium. Now we can go home REMAINING FIXTURES — Oct 18: Chelsea v Roma, Qarabag v Atletico Madrid. Oct 31: Roma v Chelsea, Atletico Madrid v Qarabag. Nov 22: Qarabag v Chelsea, Atletico Madrid v Roma. Dec 5: Chelsea v Atletico Madrid, Roma v Qarabag. relaxed and put this mentality into the Premier League.
‘it is great to play with a player like Eden hazard. he is one of the best in the world and i am very lucky to play with him.’
conte had shrugged off getting reacquainted with costa after the summer, and rightly so. With opponents as famously determined as Atletico Madrid, he had far bigger worries than a player who won’t kick a ball for his new club until January.
chelsea had dominated the bulk of the first half yet somehow went in at the interval 1-0 down.
The blame had to go to David Luiz. his moment of madness turned the game on its head in the 40th minute.
A deflected shot earned a corner and, as the ball came in, Luiz needlessly manhandled Lucas hernandez to the floor, tugging at his shirt in a most obvious fashion.
Referee cuneyt cakir brandished a yellow card for Luiz and signalled the penalty. Antoine Griezmann sent a powerful shot past Thibaut courtois, who spent three years on loan here.
A second would have been almost too much for conte, given the performance he had witnessed, for 30 minutes at least. in that period, chelsea had overwhelmed Atletico in all departments bar the scoreline.
Diego Simeone’s team were almost bullied, particularly in midfield where N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko hassled them in a way that would have been all too familiar to the locals.
chelsea’s best chance of that spell came on 13 minutes, when hazard’s deflected shot hit the post. Oblak barely moved, such was the element of surprise.
Not half as big a surprise as was waiting for Atletico, however, with Batshuayi’s late contribution.
‘We deserved to win,’ said conte. ‘i think we prepared for the game very well. My players showed great desire, will and concentration. They showed we deserve to play these types of games.’ ATLETICO MADRID (4-3-3): Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Hernandez, Luis; Koke, Partey (Gimenez 77), Saul; Carrasco (Torres 69), Griezmann, Correa (Gaitan 71). Booked: Partey, Griezmann. CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Fabregas (Christensen 86), Hazard (Willian 82), Morata (Batshuayi 82). Booked: Luiz. Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey). Att: 60,643.