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Juventus 2 Atletico Madrid 0 (champions league)
Bah!! Juventus must have bribed the gods for better treatment in the fourth game between the clubs this season. Atletico had to try and protect a Urbig a 24-rated goalkeeper with number1 and 27-rated Martinez injured. Worst still..........6minutes in and Van-De-Ven limps off the field. A 23-17-14 replaced by a 17-12-7 Pieters. It just didnt feel like a fair fight and the inevetiable happened with Juventus running out comfortable 2-0 winners.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "We did what we though was best in trying to protect Urbig and gain a result. Unfortunately losing De-Ven was a step too far. You cant go to one of the top sides in FFO short of 2 key players and expect to get much. Thankfully Southampton beat Leeds which sees us with a handy gap and both the premier sides to play at home. It is in our hands still. We beat Leeds in the next game and could have qualified should Juve hold Southampton"
Thankfully De-Ven will be available for the next game and so it is 2 league games left with Urbig in goal.
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Napoli 2 - 5 Atletico Madrid
Atletico needed a victory here but for long periods of the game it seemed to be a struggle too far. Again they went behind with the first attack of the game, then cameback to lead 1-2 only for Napoli to level immediately. Only a 3-goal burst in the final 10 minutes of the game won things. Back to back victories have not helped the league position but there the gap has closed and hope is there once more. A shot count of 16-22 was harsh on the home side
Marsh commented "It was another sketchy performance but we thankfully hit a purple patch and gained an important 3 points".
Terrible news for the club was a 3-game injury to 27-rated Martinez. Urbig will once again deputise but this is Martinez fourth injury of the season and third time he has had to leave the field of play.
Marsh commented "Its typical of our season and the last 2.something seasons. Urbig is a very good replacement but we must travel to Juventus next in the champions league. A big win would have maybe given us the chance at being in so much table control we could play some fringe players".
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Atletico Madrid 2 Real Madrid 1
A tightish game with Atletico sneaking the shot count 10-8, just enough to edge out Real and win the spanish derby. Y_Pino (45,67) was the hero of the day with Rodrygo replying late on for Real.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "That could be a massive three points this season. It keeps us in touch when this was a game that would have put us in real danger of been too far behind to make an impact. If we can go on a small mini-run we can get ourselves back in the top8 as the first target".
Up next an opportunity to close the gap with an away trip to struggling Napoli.
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Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Juventus (champions league)
What a crazy season! Just havent been able to get things moving but we seem to somehow triumph over Juventus
Thats 3 wins against them this season and Juventus should have won 2 and drawn 1.
Y_Pino (19) scored the winning game but in truth again Juventus were the better side. Marsh set up his side to play Ayre forgetting that Livi was in charge and that was an error that should have resulted in defeat but Juventus finishing was all over the place allowing Atletico to gain an important three points.
With 3 games gone and 7 points bagged, from 2 away games Atletico are in a strong position. They go again away at Juventus next week but will have home games against Leeds and Southampton to fall back on if they should finally lose to Juventus next
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Fiorentina 3 Atletico Madrid 1
The overall shot count of 16-7 certainly shows a deserved home victory but the difficult take was having TA at the start of the game and going behind after 1 minute leaving passing versus an away european tactic that simply didnt work. With Real Madrid next Atletico miserable domestic season continues as they fall a fair way back from the champions league places.
Manager Simon Marsh added "I am definitely not getting as much from the players as I should be but we cannot catch a break right now. There is still time on our sides but I am beginning to second guess everything I have ever known and confidence is flat. Maybe I should have applied for the Roma job!".
M_van_de_Ven 24 ned 1 23 17 14 improved his tackling skills
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Atletico Madrid 2 Sevilla 2
Another poor league result for Atletico who won the shot count 18-11 but again this did not manifest into three points.
Both ends of the pitch rarely work in tandem for Atletico. When they finally score the keeper struggles and then they cant score the keeper plays well.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "We are been cut off at present from the top-8. At the moment its important we stay as best of the rest and whilist league form hopefully picks up. We led twice in that game and were 1 minutes away from having TA for the rest of the game at 2-1. Just head scratching stuff.
To try and change the clubs fortunes £30m was spent this week Pina and Palcios from Barcelona with DiMarco and Osimhen leaving the club in part exchange. Hopefully this is the boost needed to inject something into this lifeless campaign.
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Atletico Madrid 2 Juventus1 (efl cup)
First goals can be all important in especially in cup ties. With both sides playing counter the likelihood is the team losing moves to passing or attacking at first sign of going behind. This would have been the case whoever scored first. Atletico got off to a great start after 2 minutes and with home advantage and tactical advantage the hope was there to see them dominate this one. 5minutes gone and the score became 2-0. However, what unfolded next shows just how good Juventus have become as they overcame the bonuses to outplay Atletico for the remainder of the game. Overall a shot count of 13-13 will have seen away manager Tony Ayre disappointed to exit at this stage, especially given the disallowed leveller.
Marsh commented "It was a terrible draw for both teams and it was always likely to be a close fought game. Thankfully our cup form right now is much better than the league and we squeeze through for important matchday income and extra minutes. We dont have a good record in this competition so it was pleasing to get through".
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Bayern Munich 2-0 Atletico Madrid
A decent effort away at a good outfit who have improved on the back of an excellent season last time out. The overall 11-10 shot count on another day may have earned the away side a point but the league season has been nothing but a struggle all season bar the Juve game. This one is disappointing but not unexpected and it the shocking start to season against much weaker sides that sees Atletico struggling outside the top-8.
Marsh commented "Its not impossible for us to come back into things with a string of wins which we capable of so we remain hopeful of getting back into contention with such a long way to go yet"
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Atletico Madrid 2 - 2 PSG
Well we nearly went and beat PSG but unsurprisingly missed out due to a last kick of the game from our former player! At least it wasnt Bastoni completing his hattrick.
It was as much as Atletico deserved though with a 17-22 shot count rather worrying considering the held home and tactical advantage.
Its a decent point but their are plenty more touch games to go and after a terrible start to the season Atletico are once again playing catch up.
Marsh commented "I almost got excited but you cant count any chickens when playing PSG. They are always capable of smashing 2-3 goals in as many minutes. We had a lot of defensive quality on the pitch and felt Adopo might just be enough to shore up the middle of the pitch and see us over the line but it was not to be".
Bayern away next up and its a game Atletico reallly need to win to avoid falling behind in the race for finishing somewhere near the top few.
WC 1461
Juventus 2 Atletico Madrid 0 (champions league)
Bah!! Juventus must have bribed the gods for better treatment in the fourth game between the clubs this season. Atletico had to try and protect a Urbig a 24-rated goalkeeper with number1 and 27-rated Martinez injured. Worst still..........6minutes in and Van-De-Ven limps off the field. A 23-17-14 replaced by a 17-12-7 Pieters. It just didnt feel like a fair fight and the inevetiable happened with Juventus running out comfortable 2-0 winners.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "We did what we though was best in trying to protect Urbig and gain a result. Unfortunately losing De-Ven was a step too far. You cant go to one of the top sides in FFO short of 2 key players and expect to get much. Thankfully Southampton beat Leeds which sees us with a handy gap and both the premier sides to play at home. It is in our hands still. We beat Leeds in the next game and could have qualified should Juve hold Southampton"
Thankfully De-Ven will be available for the next game and so it is 2 league games left with Urbig in goal.
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Napoli 2 - 5 Atletico Madrid
Atletico needed a victory here but for long periods of the game it seemed to be a struggle too far. Again they went behind with the first attack of the game, then cameback to lead 1-2 only for Napoli to level immediately. Only a 3-goal burst in the final 10 minutes of the game won things. Back to back victories have not helped the league position but there the gap has closed and hope is there once more. A shot count of 16-22 was harsh on the home side
Marsh commented "It was another sketchy performance but we thankfully hit a purple patch and gained an important 3 points".
Terrible news for the club was a 3-game injury to 27-rated Martinez. Urbig will once again deputise but this is Martinez fourth injury of the season and third time he has had to leave the field of play.
Marsh commented "Its typical of our season and the last 2.something seasons. Urbig is a very good replacement but we must travel to Juventus next in the champions league. A big win would have maybe given us the chance at being in so much table control we could play some fringe players".
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Atletico Madrid 2 Real Madrid 1
A tightish game with Atletico sneaking the shot count 10-8, just enough to edge out Real and win the spanish derby. Y_Pino (45,67) was the hero of the day with Rodrygo replying late on for Real.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "That could be a massive three points this season. It keeps us in touch when this was a game that would have put us in real danger of been too far behind to make an impact. If we can go on a small mini-run we can get ourselves back in the top8 as the first target".
Up next an opportunity to close the gap with an away trip to struggling Napoli.
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Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Juventus (champions league)
What a crazy season! Just havent been able to get things moving but we seem to somehow triumph over Juventus
Thats 3 wins against them this season and Juventus should have won 2 and drawn 1.
Y_Pino (19) scored the winning game but in truth again Juventus were the better side. Marsh set up his side to play Ayre forgetting that Livi was in charge and that was an error that should have resulted in defeat but Juventus finishing was all over the place allowing Atletico to gain an important three points.
With 3 games gone and 7 points bagged, from 2 away games Atletico are in a strong position. They go again away at Juventus next week but will have home games against Leeds and Southampton to fall back on if they should finally lose to Juventus next
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Fiorentina 3 Atletico Madrid 1
The overall shot count of 16-7 certainly shows a deserved home victory but the difficult take was having TA at the start of the game and going behind after 1 minute leaving passing versus an away european tactic that simply didnt work. With Real Madrid next Atletico miserable domestic season continues as they fall a fair way back from the champions league places.
Manager Simon Marsh added "I am definitely not getting as much from the players as I should be but we cannot catch a break right now. There is still time on our sides but I am beginning to second guess everything I have ever known and confidence is flat. Maybe I should have applied for the Roma job!".
M_van_de_Ven 24 ned 1 23 17 14 improved his tackling skills
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Atletico Madrid 2 Sevilla 2
Another poor league result for Atletico who won the shot count 18-11 but again this did not manifest into three points.
Both ends of the pitch rarely work in tandem for Atletico. When they finally score the keeper struggles and then they cant score the keeper plays well.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "We are been cut off at present from the top-8. At the moment its important we stay as best of the rest and whilist league form hopefully picks up. We led twice in that game and were 1 minutes away from having TA for the rest of the game at 2-1. Just head scratching stuff.
To try and change the clubs fortunes £30m was spent this week Pina and Palcios from Barcelona with DiMarco and Osimhen leaving the club in part exchange. Hopefully this is the boost needed to inject something into this lifeless campaign.
================================================== ================================================== ==========
Atletico Madrid 2 Juventus1 (efl cup)
First goals can be all important in especially in cup ties. With both sides playing counter the likelihood is the team losing moves to passing or attacking at first sign of going behind. This would have been the case whoever scored first. Atletico got off to a great start after 2 minutes and with home advantage and tactical advantage the hope was there to see them dominate this one. 5minutes gone and the score became 2-0. However, what unfolded next shows just how good Juventus have become as they overcame the bonuses to outplay Atletico for the remainder of the game. Overall a shot count of 13-13 will have seen away manager Tony Ayre disappointed to exit at this stage, especially given the disallowed leveller.
Marsh commented "It was a terrible draw for both teams and it was always likely to be a close fought game. Thankfully our cup form right now is much better than the league and we squeeze through for important matchday income and extra minutes. We dont have a good record in this competition so it was pleasing to get through".
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Bayern Munich 2-0 Atletico Madrid
A decent effort away at a good outfit who have improved on the back of an excellent season last time out. The overall 11-10 shot count on another day may have earned the away side a point but the league season has been nothing but a struggle all season bar the Juve game. This one is disappointing but not unexpected and it the shocking start to season against much weaker sides that sees Atletico struggling outside the top-8.
Marsh commented "Its not impossible for us to come back into things with a string of wins which we capable of so we remain hopeful of getting back into contention with such a long way to go yet"
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Atletico Madrid 2 - 2 PSG
Well we nearly went and beat PSG but unsurprisingly missed out due to a last kick of the game from our former player! At least it wasnt Bastoni completing his hattrick.
It was as much as Atletico deserved though with a 17-22 shot count rather worrying considering the held home and tactical advantage.
Its a decent point but their are plenty more touch games to go and after a terrible start to the season Atletico are once again playing catch up.
Marsh commented "I almost got excited but you cant count any chickens when playing PSG. They are always capable of smashing 2-3 goals in as many minutes. We had a lot of defensive quality on the pitch and felt Adopo might just be enough to shore up the middle of the pitch and see us over the line but it was not to be".
Bayern away next up and its a game Atletico reallly need to win to avoid falling behind in the race for finishing somewhere near the top few.
WC 1461