Isn't It A Wanda

This was a titanic Champions League 2nd Round, 1st Leg battle between Atletico Madrid and defending champions Liverpool at the spectacular Wanda Metropolitano stadium. You get goosebumps just seeing the roar from the rabid crowd as the players march out to the Champions League anthem. A proper stage for a proper match.

Atletico got just the start they wanted. Liverpool were somehow a little cautious and tentative in this game; not their usual selves. Maybe it was fear of the 'Atletico way'. Maybe they under-estimated Atletico a bit. Or maybe they were put off by their usual physical; hard-tackling selves. And it was very unusual to see Virgil van Dijk in somewhat tentative mood. What should actually have been Liverpool's throw-in ended up with him a little distracted and needlessly conceding a corner. From that, it was poor zonal defending from the champions and it allowed Saul Niguez to pop up and score from relatively close range.

And it was EXACTLY what Atletico wanted. That early lead allowed them to sit super-deep and repel all of Liverpool's attacking. Liverpool had the possession; but they were struggling to make any inroads against Diego Simeone's patented defensive-strategy; with tough tackling, incessant covering and last-ditch blocks all par for the course. It was in fact Alvaro Morata who could have increased Atletico's lead; but after turning Fabinho; his shot lacked the conviction to beat Alisson.

In the second half; it was more of the same. Liverpool tried their best; but the steadfast defending and awesome teamwork of Atletico meant there was just no way through. Juergen Klopp even had to sub off his two star players Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah; things were getting so desperate. Whether it was inspirational Man-of-the-Match left-back Renan Lodi powering all the way down the flank to repel Liverpool; classy sub Marcos Llorente foraging down the flank manfully before being chopped down; or Simeone himself masterfully conducting the vociferous crowd; this was classic Atletico through and through.

In the end; Liverpool expended so much energy that when they did have chances; through Salah's angled header and Jordan Henderson's volley; they were almost too tired and rushed to find the target. By reacting physically and frustratingly through Mane, Fabinho and Henderson, Liverpool were playing right into Atletico's hands and making things more difficult for themselves. At the final whistle; Klopp was visibly quite outraged; and remonstrating with the referee on fouls and decisions he thought should have gone their way. This is exactly how Atletico wants it; and this is their game.