MADRID, Nov. 22 -- Goals from much criticized attacking duo of Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro kept Atletico Madrid's slim hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League alive on Wednesday night with a 2-0 win at home to Roma.
Griezmann had been booed off the pitch during Atletico's 0-0 draw at home to Real Madrid on Saturday night, but he shut a few mouths with a spectacular overhead kick to open the scoring with 20 minutes remaining.
Roma were reduced to 10 men when Bruno Peres was sent off for a second yellow card with seven minutes remaining and Gameiro sealed Atletico's win with a finish into an empty net from a narrow angle two minutes later.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone lost right back Juanfran Torres through injury before kick off with Jose Gimenez stepping into the side, while Augusto Fernandez made his first start since a serious knee injury in place of Gabi Fernandez and Fernando Torres also began his first game in the group stage.
In reality the game seemed to produce little excitement among Atletico fans and it was the lowest entrance in the new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium to watch what was in reality a rather dull affair in which both sides struggled to create chances; partly because Roma knew a draw would see them into the next round, while Atletico had failed to score more than one goal in each of their last 10 matches.
Augusto did see a 25 yard shot hit the back of the Roma net in the first half, but it was ruled out because of a previous handball.
Nevertheless Griezmann's goal gave Atletico a lifeline, although the odds are still against the Spanish side who need to win away to Chelsea and hope that Roma fail to claim a home win against minnows Qarabag in the last group game to reach the last 16.
Elsewhere Ernesto Valverde rested Leo Messi and saw how Barca assured first place in their group with a 0-0 draw away to Juventus.
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao set pace in La Liga
研究:你一开口面试官就知道你是哪种人
国际英语资讯:Pardon of ex-president Fujimori sparks protests, controversy in Peru
秘鲁前总统藤森获准保外就医
体坛英语资讯:Leaders China, United States fight hard for 3-2 win, to meet on Monday
韩国提议与朝鲜举行高层会谈
有理有力有节!2017年外交天团十大精彩回应
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China wins global applause for efforts in world peacekeeping
国内英语资讯:Feature: China gifts well-equipped school building to remote Sri Lankan village
国内英语资讯:China sets schedule for becoming strong trading nation
体坛英语资讯:Chinese players impress in Hainan Chess Open
国内英语资讯:Xi stresses construction, maintenance of rural roads
体坛英语资讯:Jiangsu wins 5th straight by beating Beijing
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Third-generation hybrid rice achieves high yields in China
国内英语资讯:China to renovate 5.8 million homes in 2018
国内英语资讯:Chinese oil giant hands over last set of oil-refining equipment to Kuwaiti contractor
Therapy, treatment and remedy 三个与“治疗”有关的单词
国际英语资讯:Firefighters battling Californias wild fire on Christmas Day
国际英语资讯:Pompeo, Japanese FM hold phone talks over Iran
英国女王2017圣诞演讲:家是温馨、熟悉和爱的来源