Bitter CL evening

Salzburg against Atletico Madrid from 9pm LIVE

"Da legenst di nieder!" Another evening to forget for Adam Daghim and co...

(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

Red Bull Salzburg have bowed out of the Champions League with another clear defeat! One week after the 1:5 defeat at defending champions Real Madrid, Salzburg were beaten 1:4 (0:3) at home by their city rivals Atletico on Wednesday. Austria's runners-up finished the new league phase in 34th place out of 36 teams, while Atletico progressed directly to the round of 16 and avoided a knockout round.

There were two changes to Salzburg's starting line-up compared to the Real game. As announced, Alexander Schlager replaced Janis Blaswich in goal, while in midfield Mamady Diambou replaced Mads Bidstrup, who was briefly out of action with a stomach virus. Central defender Kamil Piatkowski was not in the stadium because he is negotiating a possible transfer to another club.

(Bild: GEPA/David Geieregger)

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures/ Wolfgang Kofler)

Atletico dominate from the start
Atletico immediately took command in front of 23,389 spectators. Giuliano Simeone put the Spanish league runners-up in front after just over four minutes. Samson Baidoo's attempted header was cleared by Julian Alvarez. Atletico's star striker set up Simeone, who was too indecisively tackled by Hendry Blank and finished.

(Bild: GEPA/David Geieregger)

(Bild: GEPA/David Geieregger)

Salzburg looked overwhelmed in defense. Adam Daghim failed to beat Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak after an initial attack to relieve pressure (13'). On the counter-attack, the ball rang out again: Schlager, who wants to assert himself against Blaswich in the internal battle for the number 1 role for the spring, erred on a long ball out of the penalty area and was picked out by Simeone. The son of Atletico's long-term coach Diego Simeone found Antoine Griezmann, who only had to tap the ball into the empty net from the far corner.

Griezmann with a brace
The Spaniards were clearly superior. Salzburg only made one more dangerous appearance in front of goal before the break, but Moussa Yeo did not look to finish from a good position, instead playing Diambou too complicated (19'). Schlager saved a Griezmann shot on the turn with a foot save (43'), but had to dig deep again shortly before the break. After a counter-attack, it was very simple: Samuel Lino set up Griezmann, who curled the ball into the far corner (45.+1).

Even after Bobby Clark and Takumu Kawamura were substituted (both in the 58th minute), Salzburg posed little threat and Atletico had everything under control, even in administration mode. Marcos Llorente made it 4:0 with a shot from a transitional situation that seemed to be saved by Schlager (63'). The ÖFB goalkeeper looked unsettled and two minutes later also allowed a Lino attempt to bounce goalwards. The consolation goal came from Daghim, who finished off a long clearance from Schlager (91').

Salzburg's disastrous home record
Daghim prevented Salzburg from losing their fourth CL home game this season - their eighth consecutive home defeat in the top flight. Atletico, on the other hand, have now won 17 of their last 19 competitive matches and all five European Cup away games against Austrian clubs.

(Bild: GEPA/David Geieregger)

(Bild: APA Pool/APA/AFP/KERSTIN JOENSSON)

In the final table of the league phase, only Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys Bern finished behind Salzburg. However, the Bulls ended up with the worst goal difference of all 36 teams with 5:27. On Sunday (18:15), the team of new coach Thomas Letsch will face their first national test after the winter break in the Cup quarter-final at LASK.

The result:
FC Red Bull Salzburg - Atletico Madrid 1:4 (0:3)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, 23,389 spectators, referee Taylor (ENG)

Goals: 0:1 (5.) G. Simeone, 0:2 (13.) Griezmann, 0:3 (45.+1) Griezmann, 0:4 (63.) Marcos Llorente, 1:4 (91.) Daghim

Yellow cards: Capaldo, Blank

Salzburg: A. Schlager - Dedic, S. Baidoo, Blank, Terzic (85. Morgalla) - Yeo (67. Ratkov), Capaldo (85. Bajcetic), Diambou (58. Kawamura), Gloukh - Daghim, Nene (58. Clark)
Atletico: Oblak - M. Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Azpilicueta - G. Simeone (59. Molina), De Paul (67. Gallagher), Koke, Lino (81. Lemar) - Alvarez (59. Sörloth), Griezmann (67. Riquelme)