Two goals conceded, Smolov and Zhemaletdinov’s injury and Cloud rescue: how Lokomotiv lost to Atlético in the Champions League

Praise from Simeone and the absence of Alexei Miranchuk

Lokomotiv approached the home match against Atlético in full combat readiness. The team scored an excellent move and on Saturday in the most important match of the RPL defeated the “Zenith”. And in the Champions League two weeks ago, the railroad workers started at all with an away victory over Bayer. And all this despite the injuries of the Miranchuk brothers. To some extent, their loss was made less painful by Grzegorz Krychowiak, who had already scored six goals at the start of the season.

After such successes, some fans thought that Lokomotiv was simply obliged to score points in the match against Atlético. For example, the former goalkeeper of the red-green Ruslan Nigmatullin said that the wards of Yuri Semin “at least will not lose.”

Semin himself was much more accurate in the forecasts and only noted that Lokomotiv should draw conclusions from previous matches with Atlético. In turn, the Madrid coach Diego Simeone called Semin “a coach with a great history” and “a powerful personality”.

The paths of teams in European competition crossed twice. The first time this happened back in 2007 at the stage of the group stage of the UEFA Cup. Then the rivals in Cherkizovo scored a productive draw - 3: 3, although Lokomotiv under the leadership of Anatoly Byshovets in the course of the meeting led 3: 2 thanks to the double of Peter Odemwingi.

The second time the teams met in the 1/8 finals of the Europa League, and Lokomotiv lost 1: 8 in the sum of two meetings. The Spanish team eventually won the trophy.

This time everyone was expecting much more resistance from the railroad. Firstly, the red-green ones have gained the necessary European Cup experience, and secondly, the opponent himself is far from ideal, as evidenced by only one victory in the last four meetings of the Examples.

The return of Loko to a successful outcome could be further returned to the work of Alexei Miranchuk. The midfielder, in anticipation of the meeting, seems to have returned to the general group, but again did not even get into the application. Semin in the current conditions decided not to take risks and completely repeated the starting lineup, which was involved on Saturday in the derby with Zenit.

But Simeone for the first time this season put out at the start of an awesome attacking trio Diego Costa - João Felisch - Alvaro Morata.

Our roster at #LokoAtletiko 💪🏻 #Champions Leaguepic.twitter.com / sIveNNI4Wu

Minimum moments and the dedicated game of Lokomotiv

From the first minutes, railroad workers were forced to retreat. However, at first the red-green ones tried to put high pressure on the opponent, but soon abandoned this idea, as the guests got out of the pressure quite easily.

But the defense of “Loco” looked almost impassable. Red and green acted in the best traditions of the teams of Kurban Berdyev, who beat Atletico with his Rubin. Often the owners lined up in defense in a line of six people, which was very difficult to pass. And in the supporting zone, Murilo and Dmitry Barinov acted very densely.

At the same time, Shomin’s wards were always ready to escape to the counterattack, as happened in Leverkusen. In the alien half of the field, Krykhovyak and João Mariou mostly tried to create. In particular, a Pole in the 12th minute struck his head a little inaccurately after a filing from the flank. In turn, Fedor Smolov during one of the quick lunges from the right corner of the penalty kick sent the ball above the goal.

As for Atlético, the guests had really few dangerous moments. Only Morata’s strong blow from the penalty box into the near corner is remembered. Marinato Guillerme incredibly managed to take shape and saved the team. For the rest, the Loko penalty area periodically became hot, but the Lokomotiv players selflessly threw themselves under the ball and carried the projectile as far as possible.

Perhaps the only fly in the ointment for the hosts in the first half was the injury of Rifat Zhemaletdinov. Thomas Party's tackle field in center field he was still trying to continue the game for some time, but was forced to ask for a replacement. Instead, Semin threw Brian Idov into battle, who took his place on the right edge of the defense. At the same time, Vladislav Ignatiev rose higher, and closer to the break he completely switched flanks with Mariu.

The failed beginning of the half and the nature of the railroad

Unfortunately, how high-quality the first half turned out for Lokomotiv, the second was so unsuccessful. As soon as the team returned to the field, “Atletico” opened the scoring. The railroad workers lost the ball after an rally, and Morata made a dash on the right flank and performed an excellent cross on João Felis. Guilherme countered the first blow of the Portuguese, but Marinato was simply not able to cope with finishing.

Now Lokomotiv was forced to act as the first number, but in the absence of Miranchuk, it was not possible for the wards of Semin in the wards. The venerable guests quietly descended into defense and switched to an energy-saving mode. And after the goal of Thomas Parti, the fate of the confrontation was finally decided. Midfielder after the discount Diego Costa, no one bothered to shoot the target from the penalty area.

To the credit of Lokomotiv, the team, even having missed twice, did not crumble and continued to move forward in the hope of scoring at least one goal. Smolov was noticeable, who regularly went to the stroke. But Fedor’s dribbling was rarely successful.

Much more useful was Krykhovyak. It was the Pole in the middle of the second half who struck the first shot of the railroad on target. The cloud calmly coped with the shot. But a little later, the Slovenian already demonstrated a truly highest class, when by some miracle parried the blow of the same Krykhovyak from a close distance after filing a corner.

In the end, Semin even made a substitute to strengthen the attack: instead of Ignatiev, he released Eder. However, almost immediately Smolov had to leave the field. Fedor was injured in one of the clashes, and the coaching staff decided not to risk it. Fans of red-green can only hope that the injury of the striker will be frivolous.

Lokomotiv failed to score, but the team proved to be the best, although it lost. Unfortunately, in this case, the performing skills of the opponent affected. But the team of Semin, despite the unsuccessful start of the second half, fought to the end and left the field to the applause of the fans. I want to believe that the red and green in the Champions League are all ahead, and the team will compete not only for third place, but also for reaching the playoffs.