Qarabag 0-0 Atlético: Champions League goals, report, action
Cruz Azul vs America: Liga MX, live online
Atlético Madrid suffered a fresh blow to their chances of progressing to the Champions League last 16 as 10-man Qarabag held on for a 0-0 draw to secure their first ever point in the competition in Baku.
It could have been even worse for the 2014 and 2016 finalists had South African striker Dino Ndlovu won a penalty rather than being shown a second yellow card for diving 15 minutes from time.
Fourth 0-0 of 2017/18 leaves Atleti on just two points in Group C
Atlético now have just two points from their opening three games and remain third in Group C behind Chelsea and Roma, who face off at Stamford Bridge later on Wednesday.
The visitors had a host of chances to open the scoring in the first half, but suffered from a familiar lack of firepower in already their fourth 0-0 draw of the season.
Yannick Carrasco and Antoine Griezmann were both denied by Ibrahim Sehic when clean through, whilst Jose Maria Giménez fired inches wide from a corner before the break.
Qarabag enjoy better chances in second half in Baku
However, it was Azerbaijani champions Qarabag, in their first ever season in the Champions League, who had the better chances in the second period.
Ndlovu's rising effort flew inches over the bar before he thought he had won a penalty as he was clipped by Diego Godin inside the area.
Instead, French referee Ruddy Buquet reduced the hosts to 10 men for what he thought was a dive.
Atlético pressed unconvincingly in the search for a winner and their best chance came when Fernando Torres headed over after he too appeared to be pushed with the goal gaping five minutes from time.
Buquet was unmoved, though, as Atlético's European campaign continues to stumble after a stalemate away to Roma and a 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea.
Qarabag 0-0 Atlético Madrid: as it happened
Qarabag vs Atlético Madrid live online: match preview
Azerbaijani champions FK Qarabag welcome Atlético Madrid to Baku’s Olympic Stadium in the third round of the Champions League group stage with both sides in need of points and in decent domestic form. Qarabag top the Azerbaijan Premier League after six wins from seven games while Atlético are also unbeaten in LaLiga but on the European stage neither club has imposed themselves on Group C yet. The Spanish side, finalists in 2014 and 2016, have just one point from their opening two games while Qarabag lie bottom of the group after two defeats during which they have conceded eight times.
Atlético
The panic button remains under lock and key at the Metropolitano despite Atlético getting off to their worst start to a Champions League campaign under Diego Simeone but anything other than victory in the Azerbaijani capital will result in its protective plastic cover being flicked upwards. The double-header against Qarabag represents an opportunity for Atlético to capitalize on the points dropped by either Roma or Chelsea, who sit on four and six points respectively, in the parallel fixtures.
Atlético lost at home to the Premier League champions in their last match, Chelsea snatching all three points from the Spanish capital through a 93rd-minute Michy Batshuayi strike. Against Barcelona last weekend, three points were converted into one when Luis Suárez scored five minutes from the final whistle but despite this recent tendency to concede late goals the greatest threat to Simeone’s side in Baku will be complacency. Qarabag were ranked 83rd in the Uefa club coefficient ranking at the end of last season, 81 places below Atlético. The Azerbaijani club spent no money in the last transfer window and Gurban Gurbanov’s side is valued at roughly a seventh of one Antoine Griezmann.
While that may look tempting on paper, in reality it will add pressure on the pitch. Simeone has big game players in Saúl and Griezmann and one of the most compact defences in Europe, plus a squad with vast collective experience of Champions League football and high-stakes games. The relative unknowns of Qarabag and the peculiarities of the Olympic Stadium, which lies below sea level, pose some questions that Simeone will need to find an answer to. Failure to pick up three points on Wednesday will not be fatal to Atlético’s expectation of getting out of the group but with Roma in fine form and Chelsea awaiting at Stamford Bridge in the final round of matches, the psychological blow of losing further ground on the currently qualified sides should not be underestimated.
Qarabag
The Azerbaijani champions will probably not have expected to be within reach of Atlético at this stage of the competition and that provides an added incentive for Gurbanov’s side, who proved last time out that the Olympic Stadium levels the playing field a little. After a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea losing 2-1 to Roma was a step in the right direction and Gurbanov will have been pleased with his team’s reaction after conceding twice in the opening 15 minutes against the Serie A side.
Summer signing Pedro Henrique was the author of Qarabag’s first-ever Champions League goal and the Brazilian adds flair to an attack that features the eye for goal of Dino Ndlovu, who scored the all-important away strike in Copenhagen that sent his side through to the group stage and assisted Henrique’s historic effort. Azerbaijan international Mahir Madatov provides youthful verve and has been prolific so far in the Premier League while the unpredictable Wilde-Donald Guerrier, who operates on the left, was a key figure in the qualification rounds.
Gurbanov threw caution to the wind at Stamford Bridge and swiftly found that it prevailed hugely in favour of the English champions, leading to a change in tactics against Roma and a 4-1-4-1 that frustrated the Italians even if proved ultimately fruitless in terms of the final score. A similar set-up, with Gara Garayev anchoring the midfield, should be expected by Simeone and his players will be hounded across every inch of the Olympic Stadium turf by a side that racked up 21 fouls against Roma.
The statistic that will most interest the Atlético coach is the number of shots on target managed by Qarabag in their two group games so far – three. Simeone will be fairly confident that he can keep that number low in Baku but must also ensure that his side are as clinical as possible in front of goal with the home side likely to throw up a solid rearguard while looking to hit on the break.
Qarabag vs Atlético live online: selected betting odds
Qarabag are priced at 16/1 for the win with Atlético the overhwhelming favourites at 11/4. Dino Ndlovu is 11/1 to open the scoring with Griezmann chalked up at 13/5.
