Atlético Madrid returned to Eindhoven for the first time in nine years to face Eredivisie leaders PSV in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night. After falling behind to Guus Til’s opener on 10 minutes, Atlético stormed back for three consecutive goals from Julián Alvarez, Dávid Hancko and Alexander Sørloth. But the Colchoneros had to hold on for dear life after Ricardo Pepi’s 85th-minute goal from a corner breathed new life into the hosts.
In the end, Atlético secured a 3-2 win in the Netherlands
over a PSV team that had not lost at all since Sept. 16. Atleti have moved provisionally into the top eight of the league phase table, and Diego Simeone’s side are within touching distance of reaching the knockouts in some form or another.
Let’s dive into some takeaways:
When Sørloth plays like this…
For the first time in his career, Sørloth notched a goal and an assist in the same Champions League game. Simeone hailed this performance as the most “complete” in Sørloth’s checkered 74-game Atlético tenure; he started slowly, losing a couple duels and spurning a good headed chance on 24 minutes, before he held off Yarek Gasiorowski and teed up Alvarez for the equalizer — and La Araña’s first goal away from home since Aug. 17.
Sørloth’s goal was his first in the Champions League since a 92nd-minute winner for RB Leipzig against Başakşehir more than five years ago. It was a product of quick thinking and technical ingenuity; Alvarez’s wipeout ball from the halfway line sent Pablo Barrios on his way, and Sørloth timed his run perfectly between Yarek and left-back Anass Salah-Eddine as he headed Barrios’ penalty-area cross beyond Matěj Kovář.
This is the version of Sørloth that changed games for Atlético last season, most often from the bench. With Álex Baena injured again, Thiago Almada preferred as a substitute and Giacomo Raspadori just making up the numbers, Sørloth is going to get what he’s coveted: a genuine run as a starter next to Alvarez. Their chemistry hasn’t always been stellar, but each has what the other craves; Sørloth’s size and off-ball runs open gaps for Alvarez, who can run onto those second balls to create panic and indecision in the opponent.
Pubill’s potential shines through his first Champions League start
Though Robin Le Normand has returned to fitness following his knee injury, Marc Pubill kept his place — and his cool — in Simeone’s lineup. It’s starting to look an awful lot like Pubill’s months of “military training” under El Cholo weren’t spent in vain.
Pubill led all players with 10 clearances at Philips Stadion, where he stood out in a shaky back line and formed a solid partnership with Hancko (who marked his return to the Netherlands with a well-taken goal) in their first match together. With his speed and anticipation, he made four recoveries and won three ground duels; with his 6’3” frame, he won two of his three aerial duels.
The Pepi goal is going to be a teaching point for Pubill; the American darted past him to tap in from substitute Ivan Perišić’s smart header across goal and make it a nervy finish for Atlético. But on his maiden Champions League start, Pubill demonstrated decisiveness and transmitted security. He showed poise, composure and a near-flawless reading of the game — especially in defensive transitions, where PSV were most likely to eat up Atlético. He allowed Atleti to defend from the front and force so many high turnovers.
Not bad for a guy who, three months ago, had never played center-back in his life.
How will Atlético survive without Koke?
Simeone’s choice to roll with Koke from the start (as opposed to reinserting Johnny Cardoso) was dictated as much by the captain’s continued good form as it was the hostile atmosphere at Philips Stadion. After he struggled to impact a similarly-frenetic contest at Barcelona last Tuesday, Koke had the time and space to influence the match in the Netherlands, where he completed 56 of his 64 passes and made 10 passes into the final third.
But familiar problems re-emerged after Simeone removed his skipper. Rather than throw on Cardoso, Simeone first chose Conor Gallagher to replace Nico Gonzalez on the left before he made a double change: Almada replaced Koke, and Sørloth exited for Antoine Griezmann.
The result? Atlético ceded control to PSV. The Rood-witten bypassed the Atleti midfield and resumed their assault on the Colchoneros’ full-backs; if it weren’t for a last-second Pubill challenge, another PSV substitute in Armando Obispo might have made it 3-3 in the dying moments.
It’s growing increasingly tough to watch Gallagher lose the ball with a heavy touch around the halfway line as Atleti try to build play. While Almada has the technical quality to perform in central midfield, he doesn’t seem to have the stamina to do all the running that the position requires. With ongoing questions centered on Johnny’s fitness and Koke’s soon-to-be 34-year-old legs, Simeone is quickly running out of viable options next to Barrios in the center of the park. It feels like an issue that only the transfer market can address.
