Madrid (AFP)

Atlético Madrid advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League and broke their scoreless offense thanks to Joao Felix, who delivered his team against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday (2-0) on the last day of the UEFA Champions League. the chick phase.

The prodigy woke up at the right moment: the Portuguese nugget Joao Felix (20 years old), recruited this summer and whistled on December 1 for his low performance, calmed the skeptics and opened the scoring on penalty (17th), before the second goal of Felipe Monteiro (54th), to propel the Madrilenians in the round of 16, in the second place of group D behind Juventus Turin.

The Portuguese silenced the critics in a quarter of an hour on Wednesday: he first caused the penalty missed by Kieran Trippier after 41 seconds of play (mowed in the area by the keeper of Moscow), before loading him - even to beat Anton Kochenkov, still on penalty (14th, for a hand, or rather a shoulder of Rifat Zhemaletdinov in the box, validated by the VAR).

He was even warmly applauded by the Wanda-Metropolitano audience when he was released (80th) ... The same public who had reserved whistles and boosed him two weeks before at Barça's championship reception.

Transferred from Benfica for seven years and 126 million euros last summer, and destined to be the new Antoine Griezmann Colchoneros, Joao Felix did not have the expected return early in the season, with only two goals in Liga ( in September), and one in C1, in the first leg against Lokomotiv Moscow (2-0, 1 October).

But Wednesday, he has multiplied class actions, like this roulette (27th) but, like the whole team, he too often fished in the last gesture. The best example: a powerful shot from outside the surface (35th) directed right into the hands of Kochenkov, followed by a beautiful lone breakthrough that finished next to the frame (36th).

On a corner quickly played by Kieran Trippier, central defender Felipe then doubled the mark to seal the qualification of Atlético (2-0, 55th), taking over the center Koke right foot.

Already eliminated from the competition, the Lokomotiv Moscow suffered during the whole meeting the attacks of Atlético, not yet completely cured of his offensive disease, because he missed many opportunities to aggravate the score.

Not restored, but in better health. And qualified.

© 2019 AFP