🎥 Atlético's bittersweet win: Simeone, Griezmann out, Botafogo through
Atlético beat Botafogo 1‑0, but it was a victory with a very bitter taste.
Simeone's team, in fact, needed to win by at least three goals to qualify for the next round of the Club World Cup, but despite a generous finish and a goal by Griezmann in the 86th minute, the result was not enough.
What was surprising was Botafogo's resilience, able to withstand the Colchoneros' onslaught in a match of the highest intensity and to achieve a historic qualification in a group that, on paper, seemed prohibitive.
😥 Atlético dominant, but ineffective
Looking at the numbers, Atlético Madrid literally besieged Botafogo for long stretches of the match. The home side produced 23 shots to their opponents' 7, creating 5 big chances compared to just one by the Brazilians. Ball possession clearly favored the rojiblancos at 61%.
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Despite this constant pressure, Botafogo's goalkeeper stood out with 4 decisive saves, one more than Oblak, and Atlético ended the first half with 21 touches in the opposition box without scoring—a figure never so high in an away game since 2019.
That time it was against Levante, and even then, they lacked finishing. History repeated itself, with elimination coming as the logical consequence of a dominant but sterile team.
🇧🇷 Botafogo, a Brazilian feat
Botafogo's progression to the next round is one of the biggest surprises of this edition of the Club World Cup. After a convincing debut, the Brazilian side withstood Atlético's pressure and clinched a ticket to the knockout stage with heart, organization, and individual performances worthy of framing.
Among these, Alexander Barboza stood out as a true defensive bulwark: against Atlético, he made 13 clearances, won 5 tackles, made 3 interceptions, and recorded 22 total defensive actions—all the highest in the match. He also shone in duels, winning 11 out of 16, and showcased technical skills with 2 successful dribbles out of 3 attempted. An insurmountable wall who perfectly embodied the spirit of a never-say-die Botafogo, deservedly among the best in the tournament.
❌ Simeone, a costly fall
Elimination in the group stage is a harsh blow for Atlético Madrid, all the more so in a group where they were considered among the favorites. It is the third time in the Simeone era that the team has failed to progress from the group stage of an international competition: it happened in the Champions League in the 2017/18 and 2022/23 seasons, and now the 2025 Club World Cup is added to the list. And Atléti is also the first European team eliminated from the competition.
A rare and resounding failure for a technical project that has made compactness and a winning mentality its hallmarks. This time, however, it was not enough. Atlético left the field to applause from their fans, but also with the awareness that they had squandered a great opportunity.
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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
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