Atletico Madrid 2-2 Juventus: 3 reasons why the game ended in a draw | UEFA Champions League 2019-20

Atletico Madrid's Hector Herrera and Diego Simeone celebrate their last gasp equaliser!
Atletico Madrid's Hector Herrera and Diego Simeone celebrate their last gasp equaliser!

It was a 4 goal thriller at the Wanda Metropolitano, as Atletico Madrid clawed their way back from a 2 goal deficit to tie the game against Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus. The game certainly lived up to the hype.

It was a rather tame first half, as both sides were seemingly content with a tie, however, that changed in the second period, as a brilliant Juan Cuadrado strike in the 48th minute got the ball rolling.

In the 65th minute, Blaise Matuidi doubled the lead off a brilliant counter-attack, as he headed the ball home from a precise Alex Sandro cross. However, Los Rojiblancos were having none of that, as their persistence was rewarded with a Stefan Savic goal 5 minutes later.

In the final throes of the game, Atleti substitute Hector Herrera pulled the Spanish capital club level, as he headed the ball past Wojciech Szczesny from a corner kick.

In this article, we try to make sense of the dramatic encounter at the Wanda Metropolitano.


#3 Tame performance from Atletico Madrid's forwards

Diego Costa - He failed to register a shot
Diego Costa - He failed to register a shot

It was a somewhat subdued performance from Diego Costa and Joao Felix, as the duo mustered a combined total of 5 shots. Costa himself failed to register a shot, and the likes of Jose Gimenez and Stefan Savic outperformed the Spanish international in that department.

That's quite a damning stat, as Atletico Madrid's centre backs outgunned the designated forwards, notching 6 shots and a goal to boot.

Atleti's forwards were subdued for much of the game due to a combination of resilient defending on the part of Juve, and some indecisive play from the Atleti frontline.

It was a brilliant team effort in the end, however, Diego Simeone will need to fire up his attackers if they are to progress deep into the latter stages of the Champions League this season.

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#2 Juventus' sizzling counter attacks

Juventus players celebrate Juan Cuadrado's opener
Juventus players celebrate Juan Cuadrado's opener

Juventus' goals were absolute beauties, as the Bianconeri powered past Atletico Madrid initially with wonderfully executed attacking manoeuvres

Two minutes after the interval, Leonardo Bonucci sent a long pass up the left flank to Gonzalo Higuain who raced away, he came inside to expertly pick up Juan Cuadrado on the right flank, and the Colombian cut back on his left foot to blast the ball beyond Jan Oblak's reach for the opener.

For Juve's second goal, a fine interchange between Cuadrado and Cristiano Ronaldo released Alex Sandro down the left flank, and he sent a perfect cross into the box for Blaise Matuidi to convert.

Atleti had no answers to those flowing moves.


#1 Juventus poor at set-pieces

Stefan Savic (r) celebrates his goal
Stefan Savic (r) celebrates his goal

Juventus captain and defensive linchpin, Giorgio Chiellini is out with an injury, and for the past couple of games, cracks have been evident in Juventus' rearguard. Chiellini's regular partner has had to pair up with the young Matthijs De Ligt, and it seems they need more time to sync.

Atletico Madrid troubled Juve all night from set-pieces, and the persistence paid off in the end. Juventus conceded both goals off set pieces, and on both occasions, the communication was all over the place.

Stefan Savic headed the ball home off a Koke free kick in the 70th minute to give Atleti hope, and substitute Hector Herrera brought the game level as he finished off a Kieran Trippier corner in the 90th minute.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari