Atletico Madrid collapse against Arsenal

Within the late video games within the Champions League, Atletico Madrid traveled to face Arsenal within the Champions League, whereas Manchester Metropolis visited Villarreal. Earlier within the day, Barcelona thrashed Olympiakos.

Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid: Atleti wrestle to open up

Whereas Arsenal started this recreation on prime with an early flurry of probabilities, together with an effort off the bar from Eberechi Eze, Atletico Madrid labored their manner again into the sport thereafter. The Gunners alternatives have been requiring increasingly work, and Atleti themselves started making inroads within the Arsenal defence, with Julian Alvarez unable to bend the ball into an open aim after David Raya was caught out of place, and a stirring run from the Argentine which led to a shot over the bar.

Within the second half, it appeared Atletico have been set to proceed their upward pattern. Coming ahead via Alvarez and Nico Gonzalez with enhance function, Diego Simeone may have been happy with the affect of his directions. Alvarez turned inside shortly after, and curled a wonderful effort off the bar from the left facet of the field.

🇺🇾🗣️ Josema Gimenez: “We now have to be self-critical about what we’re lacking once we play away. We should really feel as robust as we do at dwelling and discover ways to deal with sure moments of the match higher. There’s nonetheless an extended strategy to go to show this round.” pic.twitter.com/gqlFK25TVh

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) October 21, 2025

But the fragility of their defence, mixed with that additional ambition, caught Los Rojiblancos out. Gabriel Magalhaes escaped the Atleti marking from a set piece to go within the opener after 57 minutes. With Atletico caught pushing greater, seven minutes later Myles Lewis-Skelly picked the ball up in midfield and danced via two Atleti gamers, earlier than his driving run and ball in behind Marcos Llorente took two extra gamers out the sport. Gabriel Martinelli stepped onto the ball, and completed into the far nook.

At this level, Arsenal have been rampant, and each assault was venomous. After one other foray down the left resulted in a cross not cleared correctly, Viktor Gyokeres held off defenders to scramble the ball into the online inside the six-yard field. The 13-minute demolition was full after one other set piece discovered Gabriel unmarked once more on the again submit, and Gyokeres pounced first when he knocked it throughout aim.

The ultimate 20 minutes was pure harm limitation for Atletico, who from participant to supervisor appeared sheepish after the match. Arsenal have been definitely having the higher probabilities earlier than the opening aim, however hope was rising within the second half. As soon as once more they have been undone defending in their very own field, and the wrestle to open up and assault with out being susceptible in these massive video games will concern Simeone.

Villarreal 0-2 Manchester Metropolis: Guardiola’s facet in management

There have been early indicators of what was to come back for Villarreal, when within the opening 5 minutes, Jeremy Doku compelled a superb save from Luiz Junior, and Erling Haaland headed over. Manchester Metropolis shortly labored out that Alfonso Pedraza couldn’t deal with Savinho’s trickery on the left, and commenced to sink the Yellow Submarine deeper and deeper in the direction of their very own field. By the point the aim got here, it felt inevitable. After 17 minutes, Savinho slid the ball to the by-line for Rico Lewis, and Erling Haaland misplaced his man within the field to web the opener.

Earlier than the break, Metropolis made good on their complete domination. Savinho stood up Pedraza, and clipped the ball into the six-yard field, discovering an unmarked Benardo Silva to go dwelling.

There was little to report in the best way of Villarreal probabilities within the first half, however Marcelino Garcia Toral’s changes did assist issues. Metropolis’s domination felt so complete, they neither pushed for extra targets nor felt at risk of giving up a end result. But had Nicolas Pepe transformed both of his two probabilities late on, then the Yellow Submarine might need stood a possibility for a late assault on a degree.

An effort simply huge from Pape Gueye was the closest the Yellow Submarine got here to breaching Ederson’s aim, however the distinction between the 2 sides was clear, on a irritating evening for Villarreal.