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Where It Went Right, Where It Went Wrong: Atlético Madrid - AC Milan (UCL Second Leg)

Where it went wrong:

When eleven players come together as one, it is a team’s biggest strength. The names on paper become irrelevant. It’s about playing eye-to-eye against any opponent. It’s about crossing any hurdle. It’s about defying the odds. This is where Milan fell short. Milan savored the “underdog” tag, but failed to deliver. Diego Costa’s opener in the 3rd minute set the tone for the match. Conceding 4 goals (5 on aggregate) showed that Milan’s back line wasn’t on the same page. No one was there to close down Diego Costa in dangerous situations. Milan’s midfield wasn’t structured enough to handle Atléti’s attacking prowess. Along with Costa, Arda Turan, Koke, and Raúl García were all free to roam around the box. Scoring just one goal in both legs also hurt the Rossoneri. Atlético had considerably slowed down the game in the second half, but there was no sense of urgency from Milan to capitalize. There were positive moments of Balotelli and Kaká linking up well, but Milan’s attack wasn’t a consistent threat. They played into the tempo Atlético had dictated the entire game. This goes back to Milan’s poor decision-making.

Via Getty Images

"My job is to keep them up so that they can give everything they have until the end of the season." - Clarence Seedorf

Where it went right:

Diego Simeone and his players went into the second leg not underestimating Milan. The away goal in the first leg at San Siro was a big boost, but they played with the mentality as if they were a goal down. Diego Costa with the support of his teammates were covering so much of the pitch. What Milan couldn’t do, Atlético Madrid excelled at. They rarely lost sight of the ball. Physicality is Atlético’s biggest strength and it’s what allowed them to control the game. Anytime Milan had possession, two or three Atléti players would contain the player and regain possession. Atlético knew how to overload both Milan’s midfield and flanks as well as disrupt any rhythm from Milan’s play. In the end, Simeone’s effective implementation of his tactical knowledge was victorious.

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"I am very happy with the result, it is historic. I have warriors on the pitch." - Diego Simeone