The referee has indicated there will be an additional two minutes of time added to the end of regulation.
89'
STAT: Copenhagen have not won in their previous five matches away from Telia Parken between Danish Superliga and the DBU Pokalen.
87'
Wind is taken down strongly by Gabi just in front of the Copenhagen penalty area as the Atleti captain looks to slow down the counter-attack and allow his side time to get back into position.
84'
Atletico Madrid – in typical fashion – have slowed the game right down, passing back and forth between the midfield and the defence. The Wanda Metropolitano is in fine form as the home fans know and recognize the game is already won. With seven minutes to play plus additional time, it looks as though Copenhagen will be held without an away goal entirely.
80'
J. Wind enters the game and replaces P. Sotiriou.
Copenhagen use their final substitution of the evening, with Pieros Soteriou making way for Jonas Wind in an attacking substitution.
76'
STAT: Atletico Madrid have only lost once in their previous 20 home matches in all competitions.
72'
Copenhagen win a corner but the delivery is very poor, as nobody in a blue shirt made their way to the penalty spot where the set-piece was aimed.
68'
T. Partey enters the game and replaces K. Gameiro.
Kevin Gameiro’s golden opportunity at the 65th minute will be his last contribution of the match, as the French striker is replaced by Thomas Partey as Diego Simeone looks to maintain the clean sheet and shore things up defensively.
65'
Kevin Gameiro should have made it 2-0! A phenomenal pass finds Gameiro in between two defenders with only the keeper in front of him. Andersen comes off his line quickly but the striker really should have been able to get a shot off. The goalkeeper makes himself as large as possible and gets a body part to the eventual strike – enough of a touch to keep it from going in.
63'
Gregus stands over a free-kick just outside the Atletico penalty area. The ball is struck with some venom, but the wall is perfectly placed to block the effort. That was a wasted chance for Copenhagen who have seemingly not been that close to goal with possession all match.
Minute
Description
60'
N. Gaitán enters the game and replaces Á. Correa.
A rare Copenhagen chance as Petkovic keeps possession and emerges from his two Atletico markers before hammering a shot from quite some distance. The effort goes wide, but it certainly had the power to trouble Oblak.
Nicolas Gaitan comes on for Angel Correa who has looked exceptionally lively on the right-hand side. Each side now has only one substitution left.
58'
Correa wins a free-kick after going down under a challenge by Falk. The set-piece is just outside the penalty area, on the right-hand corner of the box. Gabi curls it in with his right foot and Diego Godin rises highest in the area, but his header is directed wide of the opposition’s goal.
55'
Play is stopped for a moment as there is a clash of heads between Fernando Torres and Vavro who were both fighting for an aerial ball. The referee instructs Copenhagen to take a drop-kick, and the ball is sent back to Atletico Madrid.
53'
Vitolo finds Correa making a forward run in the box but the Argentinian wingers’ shot hits the side netting. Atleti are constantly finding space in which to attack, with that move coming once again from the right-hand side.
51'
Soteriou gets in behind the Atleti defence and uses his strength to beat the centre-back. The strikers shot stung the palms of Oblak, who directs the effort out for a corner. Skov’s set-piece comes to nothing as the referee blows his whistle for a foul in the penalty area.
49'
Behind by four goals, Stale Solbakken needs to inject fresh legs into the match, hence the two substitutions. An goal early in the second half could do a world of good for the confidence of the away side who have once again started looking very weak at the back.
46'
Saúl enters the game and replaces Koke.
R. Skov enters the game and replaces W. Kvist.
R. Falk enters the game and replaces V. Fischer.
Diego Simeone opens the second half with a substitution, replacing Koke with Saul Niguez in midfield.
Solbakken also makes a second substitution at half-time, with captain William Kvist making way for Robert Skov.
Stale Solbakken responds with a substitution of his own, removing Vitor Fischer in favour of Rasmus Falk.
Atletico Madrid get the second half underway!
45'
Gabi does try to hit it on target, but the Andersen-organized wall does its job and ensures that the strike doesn’t make it to the goal.
44'
Copenhagen give away a free-kick just outside their own penalty area and Gabi stands over the set-piece with an eye on goal.
40'
Correa sends a pass through the defence for Torres to run onto but the ball was bending away from the striker who was unable to catch up to it. Despite the four goal advantage, Atletico seem to be in the mood to score more.
36'
Vitolo enters the penalty area relatively undisturbed and after a couple of step-overs, centres the ball for Torres – but the Copenhagen defence was alert and the pass was cut out at the last moment.
33'
Ankersen puts the ball through the legs of Sergi Gonzalez, but he promptly goes down after colliding with the right-back. The referee waives play to continue, as he deems the play to be within the laws of the game, though at first glance it did look a foul.
31'
Copenhagen are moving forward with promise but their attack is simply too slow which allows the Atletico Madrid rearguard to get into position and set up their defensive block. It has been that way all evening as Copenhagen simply do not have the pace to get in behind the Atleti full-backs.
28'
Correa gets free on the right once again but his pass to Gameiro is a fraction too late, as the striker strays just offside as the ball leaves Correa’s foot.
26'
Juanfran once again gets in behind the Copenhagen back four and delivers a cross into the area, but the linesman’s flag is raised for offside. A good decision, but Solbakken has reason to be worried as the combination of Correa and Juanfran on the right has been tormenting his side all game.
24'
Bengtsson plays a very dangerous pass which is promptly intercepted by Correa well inside the Copenhagen half. The winger goes on a mazy run but his shot ricochets back and comes off his leg for an Andersen goal-kick.
22'
Soteriou receives a return ball from Fischer and fires at Oblak’s goal from well outside the penalty area, but the shot is constantly rising and the goalkeeper is left without a save to make.
20'
Gabi’s corner is put on the edge of the six-yard box, but there were no red shirts in the vicinity. Four Copenhagen players converge and remove the danger.
18'
Copenhagen are enjoying their longest spell of possession, but are not doing much with it. The ball is constantly being sent out of and returned into their own half, with every Atletico player marking his man closely. The Danish side are not being afforded any room to make forward runs, and the attack is looking very flat and unimaginative.
15'
FANTASTIC SAVE BY ANDERSEN! Correa manages to keep the ball away from three enclosing defenders in the Copenhagen penalty area and then passes to Fernando Torres who manages to get a weak shot on target. On its way to goal, the ball takes a deflection but Andersen who is already on the ground waves a hand at it to stop the momentum before taking the ball in his grasp. Almost 2-0!
12'
Angel Correa attempts to pass the ball across the face of goal for Fernando Torres but a Copenhagen defender gets a toe to it and disrupts the attacking move. It looks like Simeone has told his side not to rest on their laurels, as they press forward again looking for a second goal in the opening 15 minutes.
10'
That is the worst possible start for Copenhagen as the Danish side now need four goals at a minimum to advance. The need to score was always going to result in space at the back, and Atletico have taken full advantage very early on. The away side may just be playing for pride at this point.
7'
K. Gameiro has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Á. Correa.
KEVIN GAMEIRO SCORES A SCREAMER. The striker picks the ball up just outside the penalty area with space to move. He takes a second to set himself and lets a fantastic shot fly which beats the outstretched Andersen in the Copenhagen goal. It is a perfectly aimed effort and Atleti are now up 5-1 on aggregate!
Angel Correa is credited with the assist after his pass allowed Gameiro the time and space to take his strike.
6'
ALMOST A GOAL! Correa was played in by a beautiful pass by Juanfran, but the shot was blocked well by the keeper for a corner which Atleti take short before losing out on possession. Ankersen chips the ball over the defence but confusion inside the penalty area between Copenhagen’s strikers waste the chance.
4'
Copehagen are being kept inside their own half, with only a long ball played over the top allowing the away side to move up the pitch. The pass was hopeful and dealt with well by Godin who outmuscled Sotiriou.
1'
The referee blows his whistle and the match is underway!
Diego Simeone has his squad in fine form coming into their second match in a week against Copenhagen. Atletico have won their last five games in all competitions, conceding just a single goal in the process. Their defensive solidity has brought them to second place in La Liga, a comfortable seven points ahead of their crosstown rivals Real Madrid who are below them in third.
Atleti enter the second leg of this Round of 32 tie with a 4-1 lead after pummeling Copenhagen at Telia Parken. Four different goal scorers managed to beat goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who has been having a difficult time of late. The Swedish keeper has conceded eight goals in his previous three matches, including a 3-1 loss to league-leaders Midtjylland.
Copenhagen have a difficult task at hand, as the Danish club will need a minimum of three goals to advance. Unfortunately for Stale Solbakken’s side, Atletico have not conceded a hat-trick of goals at home since January 2017 in a 3-2 loss to Las Palmas in the Copa Del Rey. That fixture was played at Atletico’s former home, the Vicente Calderon – meaning an away side has never scored three at the Wanda Metropolitano.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been announced! Let's begin with the home side.
Atletico Madrid Starting XI (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Sergi Gonzalez, Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez, Juanfran; Vitolo, Gabi, Koke, Angel Correa; Fernando Torres, Kevin Gameiro.
Copenhagen substitutes: Kim Christensen, Uros Matic, Mads Roerslev, Carlo Holse, Robert Skov, Rasmus Falk, Jonas Wind.
Copenhagen Starting XI (4-4-2): Stephan Andersen; Peter Ankersen, Denis Vavro, Michael Luftner, Pierre Bengtsson; Nicolaj Thomsen, William Kvist, Jan Gregus, Viktor Fischer; Andrija Pavlovic, Pieros Sotiriou.
Atletico Madrid substitutes: Moya, Sime Vrsaljko Antonio Montoro, Thomas Partey, Saul Niguez, Nicolas Gaitan, Antoine Griezmann.
Diego Simeone chooses to keep his favoured 4-4-2 formation but makes a number of changes to the personnel that took to the field in last week’s 4-1 victory over Copenhagen. Jan Oblak returns in goal replacing Moya, while left-back Lucas Hernandez makes way for youngster Sergi Gonzalez, who is given his first start for the club. Alongside him in the defence is a trio of players returning to the Europa League line-up: Juanfran, Gimenez and Godin. Angel Correa and Koke retain their places in the midfield, but Thomas Partey and Saul Niguez are removed in favour of Gabi and Vitolo – though Vitolo will be played out wide with Koke moving inside. Kevin Gameiro returns to face Copenhagen for a second time, with Fernando Torres instead of Antoine Griezmann partnering him.
Last year's winners of the Danish Superliga have been poor domestically this season, 13 points behind third place Nordsjaelland. Their presence in the Round of 32 may be the result of a relatively poor group, finishing second to Lokomotiv Moskva and ahead of Zlin and FC Sheriff – the latter only by tie-breaker. Atletico find themselves in Europe’s second-tier competition after finishing third in a Champions League group that featured AS Roma and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of the Europa League round-of-32 match between Atletico Madrid and Copenhagen from the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid.
Stale Solbakken makes four changes from the side that lost at Telia Parken on February 15th. Stephan Andersen will play in goal replacing Robin Olsen who is not even listed on the substitute’s bench today. Peter Ankersen, Denis Vavro and Michael Luftner return to the back four, but Nicolai Boilesen makes way for Pierre Bengtsson at left-back. Central midfield remains the same with William Kvist and Jan Gregus retaining their positions, but Rasmus Falk and Robert Skov are dropped in favour of Nicolaj Thomsen and Andrija Pavlovic. The extra striker means that Viktor Fischer will drop back and play on the left wing, allowing Pavlovic to partner Pieros Sotiriou.
HALF-TIME: Atletico Madrid 1 – 0 Copenhagen.
It has been a relatively straight-forward half for Atletico Madrid who took the lead after seven minutes and have not looked back. They have fashioned a number of chances down the right-hand side, with Angel Correa and Juanfran constantly posing a threat. Copenhagen have not been allowed any chances of note, and Oblak has been a spectator for the first 45 minutes. Diego Simeone should be extremely pleased with his side’s effort in the first half, as it has gone according to script with passage to the round of 16 seemingly a certainty.
Stale Solbakken’s side have simply not performed. Perhaps the early goal conceded affected their confidence, but Copenhagen have been unable to do anything offensively. A Soteriou shot from distance and a Fischer effort were the only chances of the half – though neither of them would be classified as good opportunities to score. Pavlovic has been an absolute ghost, as he has not received any service whatsoever from his teammates. Going into the game, Copenhagen knew they had to attack at the Wanda Metropolitano, but it seems as though the squad did not receive that message. It may just be a case of avoiding embarrassment, as the result of the tie already looks decided with 45 minutes still to play.
As for Copenhagen, it is always difficult to be drawn against a side that has dropped down into the Europa League from the Champions League. Atletico Madrid were never going to be an easy task for the reigning Danish champions, and the 5-1 aggregate score line accurately reflects the gulf in quality between the two sides. It is the end of the road for Copenhagen in Europe this season, and with their poor domestic form, it still remains to be seen whether or not they will grace European competition next year.
The second half offered precious little in terms of attacking football from Copenhagen, and Atletico Madrid successfully protected the lead they earned through Kevin Gameiro in the first period of play. Jan Oblak had a relatively easy time in the final 45 minutes, as Atleti’s defensive prowess once again shone at home. Atletico Madrid emerge as comfortable victors of this round-of-32 tie and will await the round-of-16 draw on Friday February 23.
FULL-TIME: Atletico Madrid 1 – 0 Copenhagen.
Thank you for following along with our live-text commentary of the Europa League tie between Atletico Madrid and Copenhagen. We hope you enjoyed it and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Atletico Madrid will be confident ahead of their next match, which is a tough game against fifth place Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday. Copenhagen’s next tie is also on Sunday, and is also an extremely important fixture against OB at Telia Parken, with a loss meaning OB will jump Copenhagen and take sole possession of fifth place in the Danish Superliga.
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