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Tag: Atletico Madrid

  • Updates: Gunners desperate to beat Atletico, lift Europa League for departing Wenger

    Updates: Gunners desperate to beat Atletico, lift Europa League for departing Wenger

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger faces a crucial match in his bid to leave the club on a high after over two decades in charge when they welcome Atletico Madrid in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday.

    The Frenchman, 68, announced last week that he would step down at the end of the campaign after a drop-off in results in recent years and fan protests.

    Lifting a European title, with Arsenal only previously having won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994, would be a fitting finale for one of the great coaches in the game and it would also herald a Champions League spot for Arsenal.

    Their chances of returning to the Champions League via the Premier League are all but over with the Londoners labouring in sixth place.

    With a Europa League final against Marseille or Salzburg on the cards, the Atletico tie is arguably the toughest ask but Arsenal players want to honour their outgoing manager.

    “His story is unique so we want to give him the best possible send off because in one way we are responsible for the situation as well,” club captain Per Mertesacker told reporters this week.

    “We have to respect Atletico. They have reached Champions League finals in recent years so we need to respect especially the home game on Thursday. I would love not to concede in that game to put ourselves in the best possible position.”

    Wenger will hope to have Mesut Oezil, Petr Cech and Jack Wilshere available for the clash after all three missed the 4-1 win over West Ham at the weekend with minor injuries.

    Atletico coach Diego Simeone is among those to have been linked in the media with the Arsenal job and the Argentinian may also feel he is coming to the end of an era with the Spanish side.

    Fernando Torres leaves at the end of the season and media reports say Antoine Griezmann could join Barcelona. It makes the Europa League extra special for Atletico too, given they won this competition in 2010 and 2012.

    Simeone included Diego Costa in his squad to face Arsenal despite appearing to rule him out of the game when he spoke at the weekend.

    On Saturday, Simeone had said: “The doctors will be well informed but I think he has very little chance to play Thursday. He will be fit for the second leg but I don’t think he has much chance of playing the first game.”

    The former Chelsea forward did not join full training on Tuesday but he was in Simeone’s group of 20 players who made the trip to London.

    Costa strained his left hamstring against Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-final second leg two weeks ago and was left out of Sunday’s goalless draw with Real Betis.

    French forward Kevin Gameiro partnered Griezmann in training for Atletico on Monday and looks favourite to start if Costa does not make the XI.

    Elsewhere Simeone has everyone available apart from long-term absentee Felipe Luis. Lucas Hernandez will continue to deputize for the Brazilian left-back.

    Marseille will hope the cauldron that is their Stade Velodrome will help them build a big lead against Salzburg, this season’s surprise packages having eliminated Borussia Dortmund and Lazio.

    The French side have gone eight Europa League home games unbeaten but the sides met in the group stage and the Austrians took four points from the two games.

    The second legs are on May 3.

    dpa

  • Europa League Update: Diego Costa named in Atletico squad for Arsenal semi-final tie

    Europa League Update: Diego Costa named in Atletico squad for Arsenal semi-final tie

    Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been named in a 20-man squad to fly to England for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg at Arsenal.

    Boss Diego Simeone said at the weekend the Spain forward had “no chance” of being fit for the game at Emirates Stadium because of a hamstring injury.

    He has missed three games since limping out of the quarter-final second leg against Sporting Lisbon.

    Costa has scored six goals in 18 games since his move from Chelsea.

    Full-back Juanfran will miss Thursday’s game because of a hamstring injury

     

    Wenger faces 125th different team – the stats

    This is the first meeting between these sides – Atletico will be the 10th Spanish side the Gunners have faced in Europe.

    Arsenal are appearing in their eighth European semi-final – they have progressed from six of the previous seven, only failing to reach the final in 2008-09 in the Champions League when they lost to Manchester United.

    This will be Atletico’s third Europa League semi-final, winning over two legs against Liverpool in 2009-10 and Valencia in 2011-12 to reach the final in their previous two.

    Arsenal have scored 29 goals in the Europa League this season, more than any other side. In only one previous European campaign have the Gunners scored more, netting 30 in 1999-2000 when they competed in both the Champions League and the Uefa Cup.

    Atletico Madrid have scored 15 goals in their six Europa League games this season, giving them the best goals-per-game average in the competition (2.5).

    Arsene Wenger will face his 125th different opponent as Arsenal boss – he has only lost his first match against 10 of the previous 124.

    Mesut Ozil had a hand in five goals in seven starts against Atletico in all competitions (4 goals, 1 assist) when he played for Real Madrid.

    Diego Costa has scored three goals in six matches against Arsenal (all for Chelsea), scoring in his last appearance against them at Wembley in the FA Cup final in May 2017 – he also scored the winner at the Emirates in a 1-0 victory in January 2016.

    Diego Simeone is yet to lose an away European match in England as Atletico manager (W1 D2), with one win and a draw against Chelsea and a draw with Leicester City.

  • Diego Simeone hopes to keep Griezmann at Atletico Madrid

    Diego Simeone hopes to keep Griezmann at Atletico Madrid

    Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is hopeful a strong finish to the season will convince Antoine Griezmann to stay at the club.

    Manchester United were interested in signing the French international last summer, while Barcelona have emerged as favourites to sign him at the end of this season, when his buy-out clause drops from €200m (£177.79m) to €100m (£88.9m).

    Atletico currently trail Barcelona by 12 points in the race for the La Liga title, though they have a game in hand against Real Sociedad on Thursday.

    Simeone’s side are also in the Europa League semi-finals, where they will face Arsenal in the first of two legs on April 26, and the Argentine hopes Griezmann can yet be persuaded that his future ambitions can be realised at the Wanda Metropolitano.

    The Argentine said: “I hope that he can see in our training sessions that this is a team who will keep growing and continue to improve, the best thing for a player is to see he is growing alongside the team.

    “So, if we end this season fighting for La Liga until the end of the season with Barcelona and get into the Europa League final, it will be a strong season for us.

    “That will count in his decision, for sure. We have to give him our all as a team and give him the motivation he needs so that when it’s time for a decision, he opts to stay with us.”

    Griezmann, 27, has scored 19 goals and added eight assists in 28 La Liga appearances this season.

    Sky Sports

  • Fernando Torres scores 100th La Liga goal in Atletico win

    Fernando Torres scores 100th La Liga goal in Atletico win

    Fernando Torres scored his 100th La Liga goal as Atletico Madrid beat Levante 3-0 at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

    The 34-year-old former Liverpool and Chelsea striker, who has not been a first-team regular this season, came on for Antoine Griezmann and volleyed home Atletico’s third from 10 yards.

    Angel Correa and Griezmann smashed in Atletico’s first two goals.

    The Europa League semi-finalists remain in second, 11 points behind Barcelona.

    Atletico, who have won their last 10 home games with conceding once, face Arsenal over two legs on 26 April and 3 May.

    Torres says he will quit Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, who is out of contract in the summer

    Atletico say they will honour Torres at their last home game of the season against Eibar on 20 May and will make it an “unforgettable” occasion.

     

  • Former Chelsea striker, Torres to leave boyhood club Atletico Madrid at end of season

    Former Chelsea striker, Torres to leave boyhood club Atletico Madrid at end of season

    Fernando Torres says he will quit Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, who is out of contract in the summer.

    The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker, 34, has seen his first-team opportunities limited this season.

    The Spain forward was an unused sub as Atletico drew 1-1 at home to rivals Real Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.

    “This will be my last season at the club. As you can see I am playing very little,” said Torres.

    The Spaniard rejoined his boyhood side in 2014 after a period on loan at AC Milan. He has scored 126 goals in two spells at the club. He was part of Chelsea’s Champions League-winning side in 2012.

    “I felt obliged to inform the supporters. It’s not been an easy decision. This is not a day for reproaches.

    The striker said, “It’s very difficult to say goodbye for the second time. My aim was to hang up my boots here. I want to keep playing for two, three or five years.”

    Atletico say they will honour Torres at their last home game of the season against Eibar on 20 May and will make it an “unforgettable” occasion.

    “Fernando is a legend of our club,” said Atletico president Enrique Cerezo, adding: “The doors of Atletico de Madrid will always be open for him.

    “We have always said that he would have the decision about his future because this is his home and if he has decided to continue his professional career from the next season in another place, I can only thank him for everything he has given us, which is a lot.”

    BBC

  • Costa scores sent off after scoring on home debut for Atletico

    Costa scores sent off after scoring on home debut for Atletico

    Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa scored on his home debut in a 2-0 win over Getafe on Saturday and was immediately sent off for an over zealous celebration.

    It was a typically eventful return to La Liga for the former Chelsea striker, as he hit the second goal in the 67th minute, after Angel Correa had put Atletico ahead in the 18th minute.

    He rushed to the home fans behind the goal at the Wanda Metropolitano, creating a mini-surge as supporters ran down to embrace their returning hero.

    The Spain striker had also played for the club from 2010 to 2014.

    Leaving the pitch to celebrate with the fans automatically incurs a booking.

    As Costa had already been shown a yellow card for elbowing Djene Dakonam seven minutes earlier, referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero had no choice but to send him off.

    He had returned to Atletico from Chelsea for 57 million pounds ($77.34 million) in September but could not play until January due to a ban on the club registering new players.

    Costa will now be suspended for Atletico’s next Liga game at Eibar on Jan. 13.

    Atletico are second in the standings on 39 points, six behind leaders Barcelona who host Levante on Sunday.

    Third-placed Valencia host Girona later on Saturday before Sevilla play Real Betis in a local derby, while champions Real Madrid visit Celta Vigo on Sunday.

  • Costa scores five minutes into return for Atletico Madrid

    Costa scores five minutes into return for Atletico Madrid

    Substitute Diego Costa scored five minutes into his Atletico Madrid return in the Copa del Rey last-16 first-leg win at third-tier side Lleida Esportiu.

    Chelsea agreed to sell Costa, 29, back to Atletico in September, although he was not cleared to play until January.

    And he came off the bench for his second Atletico debut after 64 minutes, before scoring his side’s third goal.

    Diego Godin, Fernando Torres and Antonie Griezmann were also on the scoresheet for Atletico.

    “I’m really happy to feel like a footballer again and play once more with Atletico Madrid. It was very important for me,” said Costa.

    “I couldn’t have hoped for a better start to my second spell with Atletico.

    “I was given the opportunity to play again and I had the chance to score a goal, that makes me even happier.”

    Costa started the move that led to his goal, driving forward before moving the ball wide, allowing Juanfran to whip in a low cross that Costa clipped past Lleida keeper David Oliveros.

    Costa appeared to have injured himself stretching to score the goal, but was able to carry on and finish the game.

    “Costa’s return has filled us with enthusiasm,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. “He brings speed, strength and physicality, which is what we expected of him.”

    Brazil-born Costa joined Chelsea from Atletico for a reported £32m in 2014 and he scored 58 goals in 120 appearances for the Blues, including 20 in the Premier League last season as they won the title.

    But he was told by text message he was not in Antonio Conte’s plans, did not play for Chelsea this season, and spent much of August in his native Brazil.

    And while the deal was agreed in September, he could not be registered as a player for the La Liga outfit until January, when the club’s transfer window ban came to an end.

    The second leg against third-tier Lleida Esportiu is on Tuesday, with Atletico hosting Getafe in the league on Saturday.

     

  • Atletico Madrid to report Barcelona to Fifa over Griezmann illegal approach

    Atletico Madrid are to report Barcelona to Fifa over an alleged illegal approach for striker Antoine Griezmann. The 26-year-old France international signed a new contract earlier this year, committing him to Atletico until the end of the 2021-22 season.

    Griezmann has been linked with a number of clubs, including Manchester United.

    However, it is understood Atletico’s complaint is only with Barcelona, who they claim have spoken to people around Griezmann, including family members.

    The Spanish club say that breaks Fifa regulations.

    BBC Sport has contacted Barcelona for a response to the allegation.