Porto seal top spot, dump miserable Atletico out of Europe
Porto, Portugal - Porto sealed top spot in Champions League Group B with a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, with the Spanish side dumped out of Europe entirely as Bayer Leverkusen finished third.
Diego Simeone’s team were hoping to reach the Europa League after their elimination
was sealed last week, but they lost on a miserable night in Portugal for the 2014 and 2016 runners-up.
Bayer Leverkusen drew 0-0 with second-placed surprise package Club Brugge in the other game, moving level with Atletico on five points and finishing ahead of them on head-to-head, leaving the Spanish side bottom of a group which they expected to win.
The two prior times Atletico were knocked out in the group stage they went on to win the Europa League, in 2009-10 and 2017-18, but this limp defeat ensured they cannot find similar consolation this season.
“We did not deserve to reach the last 16 or even the Europa League, that’s how it is, if you only win one group game then that’s what you get,” admitted Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann, speaking to Movistar.
“Now we have to focus hard, work, shut our mouths and fight. We are a difficult team to face if we believe it, we all work, if we all row in the same direction with the coach. We’re all proud to work with him and at this club but we have to show it on the pitch.”
It is the first time Atletico have finished bottom of the group in the Champions League, with more questions than ever being asked of Simeone, who has been at the helm since December 2011.
“They were better, they beat us well, we are deservedly last in the group,” Simeone said.
“We have to learn (from it). Europe is behind us, La Liga is coming and we have a game on Sunday where we have to pick ourselves up in the league.”