Atlético de Madrid were made to pay for an appalling lack of final-third quality in a 1-1 draw at Galatasaray on Tuesday night that takes qualification for the UEFA Champions League’s last 16 out of their hands.
Giuliano Simeone’s opening goal was cancelled out only 15 minutes later when Marcos Llorente stuck a Leroy Sané cross into his own net. Atlético attempted 15 shots in a frenetic contest against the Turkish champions, but the Colchoneros needed a stellar last-minute stop from Jan Oblak to preserve the draw amid an inability to put chances away at the other end.
Let’s get in to the ratings.
Oblak
Made his 100th Champions League appearance for the club. Couldn’t do a thing about Marcos Llorente’s own goal on 20 minutes, kept the draw with a stunning save on an unmarked Gabriel Sara in the dying minutes. Leaves with honor. 7.5
Llorente
Found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as he turned in Roland Sallai’s cross for an own goal. Didn’t put a foot wrong for the rest of the half and moved into midfield for the second half as Diego Simeone reshuffled the deck. He made up for the own goal by clearing away a rebound opportunity from Sara’s shot that would have seen Galatasaray net a winner. 6
Pubill
Booked for a shirt pull on and subsequent tussle with Victor Osimhen, whom he otherwise kept quiet in the first half. Shifted to right-back in the second half and continued his strong performance, albeit without the precision needed to create chances. Caught in-between on the 2v1 that resulted in the Sara chance late on. 7
Hancko
Had a heart-in-mouth moment when he nearly collided with Oblak as he cleared a Barış Alper Yılmaz cross for a corner, while indicating to the goalkeeper that he couldn’t hear him amid the noise at RAMS Park. Enjoy seeing him get into attacking areas, but he missed a good chance from a corner in the second half when he couldn’t settle down a bouncing ball and side-footed it wide. 6
Ruggeri
Picked up his first goal contribution for Atlético with a pinpoint cross to Giuliano Simeone for the Argentine’s fourth-minute header. Probably still looking for Leroy Sané after the German skinned him before delivering the cross that Llorente put in his own net. Otherwise did little of note. 5
Koke
The captain just doesn’t have the legs anymore to perform at this level for 90 minutes two or three times a week. Atlético looked rudderless once the 34-year-old went off. Concerning. 6
Barrios
Showed great balance and ability on the ball but a few too many passes went wayward. A cynical challenge on Lucas Torreira after he lost the ball to the Uruguayan saw him pick up a yellow that effectively ended his night. Simeone should have kept him on anyway, especially if he had already decided to take off Koke. 5
Giuliano
Opened the scoring with a bullet header out of Uğurcan Çakır’s reach, his second Champions League goal this season. Overhit two crosses to Sørloth with the Norwegian begging for the ball at the far post on the counterattack both times. His touch got heavier as the match moved along, and he was booked for taking down Yılmaz after the hour. 5.5
Almada
Kept his place over Álex Baena in a surprise choice. Played a great pass to Matteo Ruggeri in the buildup to the opener, another display of his on-ball quality. Off the ball remains a different story; he failed to complement Ruggeri on the left, he lost five of his eight duels and picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Sallai, leading to his departure at halftime. His skill is not in question, but Almada is a player for specific contexts — like quick transition football — and he doesn’t have the look of someone who is going to develop into a starter. 4.5
Alvarez
Had the game’s first shot into side netting from an early counterattack. Got on the ball plenty — he started the move for Giuliano’s goal with a deadly cross-field ball to Sørloth — but his shooting boots are still missing. He took eight touches in the penalty area but couldn’t halt his goal drought, which has extended to seven games. 4.5
Sørloth
A strong presence at the start holding up the ball, winning it in the air and serving as a reliable crossing option. Steadily marshaled out of the game though and removed after 60 minutes as Simeone sought more movement between the lines of Galatasaray’s defensive block. 4
Baena
Entered for Thiago Almada to begin the second half. Çakır saved his rocket of a shot in the last five minutes. One of those games where you would expect him to step up and steer the ship, but it just isn’t happening for him. 3.5
Johnny
Replaced Koke on 56 minutes. Part of a reset that saw Llorente drop into midfield and Baena join them when Atleti transitioned out of defense. A solid, tidy, if unspectacular performance. 5.5
Le Normand
Replaced Pablo Barrios on 56 minutes. Osimhen didn’t rip him limb from limb. That’s a win. 4.5
Griezmann
Replaced Sørloth on 61 minutes. Had a free kick well-saved six minutes from time when it looked like he was going to score his second such goal in three games. 5
Nico Gonzalez
Replaced Julián Alvarez on 73 minutes. Back in the team for the first time in a month, worked his socks off to keep attacking sequences alive and serve as a transition outlet. Still unsure what his best position is; he’s not technical enough to play as a winger at an elite European side. 4.5
