Tag: Atletico Madrid

Barcelona battled back from two goals down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 and land an important blow in the La Liga title race on Sunday.

Lamine Yamal struck in the 92nd minute and Ferran Torres in the 98th to help take the Catalans back top of the table after Real Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to briefly claim pole position.

Barcelona have a game in hand on the champions with both sides level on 60 points, while Atletico trail the top two by four after they crumbled at home against Hansi Flick’s side to end a disastrous week following their Champions League elimination.

“How we play, the confidence we have, it’s really good to see,” said Flick, whose team are fighting for a potential treble.

“We will try everything to win trophies, the match today gives us more confidence.”

Having twice been caught out late by Atletico this season, this time it was Barcelona’s turn to provide the sting in the tail, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions.

Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth put Atletico ahead before Robert Lewandowski and Torres hit back for Barca, who went on to win in stoppage time.

“I think that after the anger, the feeling of impotence, not being comfortable in the game, we put our best foot forward and gave the best that we have,” Yamal told DAZN.

“It was a very important game to win in the end, beating Atletico was a statement win, we put ourselves back as leaders having played a game fewer and we’re very happy.”

Flick had warned his players to stay focussed after they conceded a 96th minute goal in December to surrender the lead at the top of the table to Atletico in a 2-1 home defeat.

Barcelona also conceded two late goals in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg to draw 4-4 against Diego Simeone’s side in February.

Barcelona’s best chance of the first half came towards the end of it, when Pedri played in Lewandowski, who hit the top of the crossbar with a powerful drive. From the resulting goal kick, Atletico found the opener.

The hosts worked the ball to Antoine Griezmann, who threaded a brilliant pass across the area to Giuliano Simeone, with Alvarez finishing from his cut-back.

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It provided a moment of joy for the former Manchester City striker who felt deep frustration in midweek when his penalty against Real Madrid was controversially disallowed for a supposed double touch on the ball, as Atletico were eliminated in the Champions League last 16.

Simeone turned to his bench to freshen up his side after the draining Champions League defeat. The coach introduced Sorloth and Conor Gallagher and they combined for Atletico’s second goal.

Atletico put together another fine team move with Griezmann heavily involved, before Gallagher squared to perennial super-sub Sorloth to net his 11th league goal of the season, despite just nine starts.

Barcelona had complaints about a Rodrigo De Paul handball in the build-up dismissed and they turned their anger into an instant response.

Martinez drove forward with the ball and slung it into the box for Lewandowski, who controlled well and powered a low finish past Oblak to spark the comeback.

Substitute Torres soon netted the equaliser when Raphinha crossed from the right.

With Atletico shaken, Barcelona took full advantage, with Yamal’s deflected shot from distance sending them ahead in stoppage time.

“We have to congratulate our opponent, they had a good game and in the end were very effective with their chances,” said Simeone.

“They had that bit of luck which you have to have, in the deflection for Yamal’s goal for 3-2.”

Torres bagged his second late on to round off a win which could prove decisive come the end of the season.

“It was a strange game because we did well in the first half, we had them under control and scored two goals… it’s true the 120 minutes in the Champions League weighed on us, and in the end the team fell apart,” said Atletico’s Llorente.

“We will fight to the end (for La Liga), we have seen many times how things change, you have a good month and someone else has a bad one, and you turn it all around.”

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Real Madrid produced a gritty display to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-2 win on penalties against rivals Atletico Madrid, following a 1-0 defeat after extra time on Wednesday.

Diego Simeone’s team dominated the record 15-time champions at the Metropolitano Stadium for much of the match.

However, Real Madrid has never been eliminated by Atletico in this competition. After Conor Gallagher scored in the first minute, Madrid fought hard to secure a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Thibaut Courtois made several saves to thwart Julian Alvarez, and Vinicius Junior blazed a penalty high and wide for Madrid.

In the shoot-out Alvarez scored for Atletico, but his effort was controversially ruled out for seeming to touch the ball twice because of a slip as he shot.

“The ball didn’t move,” complained Simeone. “I want to believe they saw he touched it (twice).”

Marcos Llorente also missed for Atletico, and Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger struck the winner for the reigning champions, who will face Arsenal in the last eight.

“I had to pick the coldest players possible (for penalties),” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“I think it’s a lottery still, a toss-up. Today it came in for us — Atletico go out with their heads held high because they played at a good level.”

Atletico played with caution in the first leg despite trailing, willing to take a single goal deficit back to the fiery Metropolitano stadium, where they believed they could really turn the heat up on their arch-rivals.

Real Madrid knocked Atletico out in the 2017 semi-finals in the final European game at the Vicente Calderon, with this being the first time the derby has been played at Atletico’s new home in the Champions League.

After defeats by Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 finals, the latter on penalties, and elimination on every other occasion the teams have met in the competition, Atletico were desperate to change the narrative but came up fractionally short.

“I think we played a great match, but unfortunately, we lacked a bit of luck,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak told Movistar. “The truth is that one feels pain; it hurts a lot.”

Atletico came flying out of the blocks and took the lead after just 27 seconds through Gallagher, levelling the tie on aggregate.

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Rodrigo De Paul’s low ball in from the right was not cut out by Raul Asencio and former Chelsea midfielder Gallagher lunged in to beat Courtois from close range.

“We came out as if it was already won, and in the first move, they scored a goal against us, and that messed us up a lot,” Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde told Movistar.

Atletico were content to sit deep and soak up pressure as Real Madrid pushed the ball around in their territory but were also ready to spring forward on the counter.

Courtois saved on three occasions from Alvarez, who had scored a brilliant goal in the first leg.

With Atletico controlling the game, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti brought on Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Vazquez in search of fresh energy.

Madrid soon produced their best attack of the game, with superstar trio Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe combining on a rapid counter.

Mbappe skipped away from Jose Gimenez and then was dragged down by the desperate Clement Lenglet for a penalty before he could shoot.

Vinicius stepped up, facing down a red wall of whistling Atletico fans behind the goal, and buckled under the pressure, firing high and wide.

Madrid shaded extra-time as both teams looked tired but pushed themselves to their limits with the match on a knife-edge.

Mbappe stepped up first from the spot and sent Oblak the wrong way, with Bellingham following suit after Alexander Sorloth netted for Atletico.

Alvarez slipped as he smashed home the hosts’ second penalty, and after a VAR review, it was ruled out as he had touched the ball twice as he struck it.

Oblak saved from Vazquez’s weak penalty to put Atletico back on track, but it was short-lived as Llorente crashed his penalty off the bar.

Oblak dived the right way for Rudiger’s decisive penalty, getting a hand to it, but he could not keep it out as Madrid marched into the last eight, after winning their sixth shoot-out against Atletico from six.

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The Pakistan Football League (PFL) has joined hands with Spanish club Atletico Madrid ahead of the launching ceremony of the event next week.

The representatives of Atletico Madrithe expressed their excitement to attend launching ceremony of the Pakistan Football League (PFL).

Atletico Madrid had deployed its International Academy Project in Lahore from 2016 to 2020 as part of its strategic international expansion plan.

Atlético de Madrid Academy Manager Adolfo Guerrero Gunther in a statement said that they are thrilled to have been invited to the unveiling of PFL and to be back again to Pakistan.

“It (Pakistan) is a huge market full of opportunities, where we wish to explore different possibilities to develop the Academy programs,” he added.

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The Pakistan Football League is being unveiled in a ground-breaking ceremony Lahore on 4 June 2024, followed by a series of farewell dinners in each city celebrating its success with VVIPs and celebrities before send off by the British Deputy High Commissioner who will host a farewell sendoff reception in Karachi on June 5.

The Pakistan Football League (PFL) is set to be launched in Lahore on June 4 as English football legend Michael Owen has been appointed as Ambassador of the league.

Michael Owen will be the chief guest at the PFL launching ceremony, accompanied by a delegation of around 25 foreign guests, including Mike Farnan, CEO of Redstrike; SL Benfica’s Davide Gomes and Luis Miguel de Sousa Santos Reis; and renowned football analyst Mike Alison.

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VILLARREAL: Saul Niguez scores in the 87th minute to secure a win for Atletico Madrid against Villarreal in their La Liga 2023-24 fixture at Estadio de la Cerámica on Monday.

The 2-1 victory pushed Atletico Madrid up to fourth place in the La Liga standings, now trailing third-placed Girona by only seven points.

The visitors opened the scoring early on with Axel Witsel finding Rodrigo Riquelme’s cross following a corner and headed the ball to the top right corner of the net.

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However, Villarreal levelled five minutes into the second half as Alexander Sorloth got his name on the scoring sheet.

He found Gerard Moreno in the 49th minute and hit the equalizer from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

The entertaining clash was heading towards a stalemate when Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone substituted Pablo Barrios with Saul Niguez in the 83rd minute.

Saul did not take too long and scored the winner in less than five minutes after coming off the bench courtesy of an assist by Cesar Azpilicueta.

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“(Saul) entered the game well and scored a great goal,” Simeone said after the match. “I’ve put him on a bunch of times because I believe in him and I hope he can give us a lot.”

Simeone said his team still needed to improve to lock down Champions League qualification for next season.

“Athletic are having a very good season, Girona aren’t giving up, and we have to improve,” said the coach. “Pace of play and intensity decide things and we have to improve in that regard.”

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MADRID: Joao Felix opened the scoring for Barcelona and guided them to a 3-0 victory against his parent club Atletico Madrid at Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday during the ongoing La Liga 2023-24.

Barcelona became the first team to defeat Atletico Madrid at their home stadium this season, breaking their 25-game undefeated streak at Metropolitano Stadium.

Notably, Atletico’s last home defeat also came against the Catalans in January 2023.

With this victory, the defending champions displaced Girona at the second position in the La Liga standings only behind Real Madrid.

Watch La Liga 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

Felix, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid, gave the visitors an early advantage with a 38th-minute goal after he found Robert Lewandowski’s cross and hit from the centre of the box.

Lewandowski himself also got his name on the scoring sheet and doubled the advantage in the early minutes of the second half with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box.

The Polish striker provided another assist as Fermin Lopez powered a header in the 65th minute to make it 3-0.

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Barcelona are unbeaten in the last 10 matches since their coach Xavi announced that he would leave at the end of the season.

“I’ll push the (players) more than ever,” Xavi told DAZN, refusing to throw in the towel on Barcelona’s title defence.

“And now that I’m leaving, even more so — we will try to improve and compete for La Liga and the Champions League, the two most important trophies.”

Meanwhile, in another La Liga clash Rayo Vallecano edged Real Betis 2-0, while Villarreal and Almeria Almeria registered 1-0 victories over Valencia and Las Palmas respectively.

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Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior on Thursday condemned racist chants aimed at him by Atletico Madrid fans before the midweek Champions League match against Inter Milan.

“I hope you have already thought about their punishment,” the Brazilian said on X, mentioning the official accounts of the Champions League and European football’s governing body UEFA.

In his message, the 23-year-old relays a video where Atletico supporters can be heard chanting racist abuse in front of the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid.

“It’s a sad reality that happens even during matches where I am not present,” Vinicius added in the same message.

Espero que vocês já tenham pensado na punição deles. @ChampionsLeague 👍🏿 @UEFA 👍🏿 é uma triste realidade que passa até nos jogos que eu não estou presente! https://t.co/IDHAkG9H6S

— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) March 14, 2024

The Brazilian international has faced racial abuse since he joined Real in 2018.

The Spanish football league told AFP that it was going to lodge a complaint for these “lamentable racist chants”, even if the incidents occurred during a European match, rather than at the league, and outside the stadium.

“La Liga is very committed to making football a hate-free space and will continue to relentlessly pursue any attitude of racism, homophobia, violence, hatred… whatever the competition,” it said.

Atletico Madrid beat Inter Milan on penalties to reach the Champions League quarter-finals after Memphis Depay’s late strike secured a 2-2 aggregate draw on Wednesday.

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Atletico Madrid bounced back from two goals down on aggregate against Inter Milan to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a thrilling 3-2 penalty shoot-out triumph on Wednesday.

Trailing by a single goal after last month’s first leg, Atletico looked dead and buried when Federico Dimarco pushed home Inter’s opener at the Estadio Metropolitano.

But Antoine Griezmann immediately pulled the hosts level on the night and three minutes before the end of the regulation 90 minutes substitute Memphis Depay took the tie to extra time at 2-2 with a fine low finish.

That set up the decisive shoot-out which ended with Inter Milan missing three of their five penalties, star striker Lautaro Martinez handing passage to the last eight to Atletico when he booted his spot-kick way off target.

The two teams could barely have come into Wednesday’s Champions League match in more contrasting form as Inter had won 13 matches on the bounce since the start of 2024 while Atletico had won only one of their last five.

However, it was an even and exciting contest in the Spanish capital in which Atletico pushed hard for the win and both sides created a clutch of opportunities.

Home advantage turned out to be crucial for Atletico who have won 19 of their 21 fixtures at the Metropolitano in all competitions.

Atletico are also unbeaten in 17 knockout matches on home turf in the Champions League and in front of a passionate crowd they fought back from an impossible-looking position against runaway Serie A leaders Inter.

Depay smashed a powerful effort off the woodwork moments before his strike took the two teams to an additional 30 minutes while Rodrigo Riquelme wasted a glorious chance to snatch the tie for Atletico without the need for extra time.

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Inter meanwhile were left ruing two great chances on the break as Atletico pushed for their second, both Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella finishing poorly with chances to seal the tie.

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter now turn their attentions back to winning their 20th Serie A title while Atletico await Friday’s draw for the last eight in Nyon.

Inter, who wasted a series of opportunities to earn a bigger first-leg advantage, are 16 points clear of AC Milan with 10 league matches remaining.

It was a fast-paced encounter from the off as Atletico pushed immediately to level the tie with aggressive pressing.

Samuel Lino burst down the left flank and tested Yann Sommer in the fifth minute before his counterpart Denzel Dumfries forced a double save from Oblak.

Inter were dangerous on the break and it was with a quick-fire exchange of passes that the away side took the lead, Dimarco confidently netting the first time from Barella’s neat cut-back.

However, Inter’s celebrations were almost instantly cut short when Griezmann pounced after Koke’s through ball deflected off two Inter defenders, taking his club-record goal tally to 176.

Griezmann forced a decent stop from Sommer shortly after the break as Atletico again tried to pen Inter into their own area.

Thuram blasted over after being perfectly put through by Martinez, leaving Inzaghi raging on the sidelines, before Barella shot weakly at Oblak in a similarly good position.

Depay then struck and all the momentum that had been building went definitively in Atletico’s direction, eventually leading to a joyous shoot-out win.

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MADRID: Marcos Llorente’s goal helped Atletico Madrid edge Sevilla 1-0 to displace defending champions Barcelona in third position during their La Liga 2023-24 clash at Civitas Metropolitan Stadium on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid’s last La Liga match ended in a 3-3 stalemate against Getafe after being reduced to ten men, while Sevilla registered their third victory this season over Granada 3-0.

Both teams started the game on high, making two attempts each in the first ten minutes to end this year with a victory.

Antoine Griezmann was at his best, making several attempts to earn the lead for Atletico however, Sevilla’s goalkeeper did not let him get through.

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Both sides fought hard in the first half, which ended without a goal from either team.

The home side made two substitutions for the second half as Marcos Llorente replaced Nahuel Molina, while Ángel Correa replaced Rodrigo Riquelme.

Marcos Llorente came off the bench and scored the match-winner in his first minute as he hit a right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner.

This was Llorente’s third goal during the ongoing season of La Liga.

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Llorente came close to adding a second with a header that hit the top of the net and a shot saved by Sevilla keeper Marko Dmitrovic.

Sevilla made several vain efforts to equalise but could not get through as the home side’s lead remained intact until the final whistle.

Atletico Madrid will face second-placed Girona in their next La Liga match on January 4th, while Sevilla will face Athletic Club on the same day.

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Joao Felix’s superb dinked finish earned Barcelona a vital 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday in the La Liga title race.

The Portuguese forward, on loan at Barcelona from Atletico, made no secret of his pleasure to escape the Spanish capital this summer and made his parent club pay at the Olympic Stadium.

Felix was criticised by some Atletico players ahead of the game and Barca coach Xavi Hernandez called on him to use those words as inspiration, which he duly did.

The forward’s goal allowed Barca to reclaim third place from Atletico, now trailing leaders Real Madrid and second place Girona by four points in the La Liga points table.

Atletico have not won away against the champions in La Liga since 2006, a run now stretching to 18 matches, but arrived thinking this could be the time to snap that streak.

Since crumbling to a defeat in the Clasico by Real Madrid at the end of October, Barcelona have struggled for form and confidence.

Barcelona started well, carving out chances and Felix broke the deadlock after 28 minutes, taking a brilliant touch to ride Nahuel Molina’s challenge and then dinking the ball over Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Felix celebrated with arms aloft, standing on the advertising hoardings in front of the angry visiting supporters, while Rojiblancos coach Diego Simeone appeared disgruntled as he flashed up on the big screens.

Watch La Liga 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

The 24-year-old forward, a club record signing at 126 million euros ($137 million) in 2019, never settled in the capital and did not click with Simeone’s management and playing style.

“It was spontaneous… in the heat of the game and it was like a relief, for everything I lived through this summer,” Felix told Movistar about his celebration.

“Every week I’m talked about, whether for good or bad, I do my job, without looking at what they say or think.”

Perhaps not coincidentally, Axel Witsel was soon booked for hacking Felix to the ground shortly after.

Felix came close to a second with a prodded effort from Ilkay Gundogan’s cut-back, but this time Oblak denied him.

Gundogan impressed in midfield alongside fit-again duo Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, as Barcelona controlled the game.

Raphinha clipped the post at the start of the second half to get Barcelona fans out of their seats.

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Despite their high-calibre opponents, the attendance fell short of 35,000 and was the club’s poorest this season, with supporters perhaps chastened by the colder winter evenings and the late kick-off.

Atletico improved in the second half but not by enough to force an equaliser.

Talisman Antoine Griezmann worked hard but could not find the net against his old employers — he has not netted in 14 games against Barca for the Rojiblancos.

Memphis Depay, another ex-Barcelona player, came closest for Atletico with a free-kick tipped over by Inaki Pena, between the sticks for the hosts in place of the hurt Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Robert Lewandowski should have wrapped up Barcelona’s victory but pulled an effort wide late on – he only has three goals in his last 10 games for the club across all competitions.

Atletico, fourth, trail Barca by three points and the top two by seven.

Earlier winless bottom side Almeria were held 0-0 at home by 10-man Real Betis, seventh, on Sunday.

Struggling Sevilla, 15th, drew 1-1 with Villarreal and have not won in 10 matches under new coach Diego Alonso between La Liga and the Champions League.

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Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata struck twice each as Atletico Madrid hammered ragged 10-man Celtic 6-0 on Tuesday to move top of their Champions League group.

Diego Simeone’s side took an early lead through Griezmann but were struggling until Celtic forward Daizen Maeda was dismissed midway through the first half for a high foot.

Morata added a second before the break and Atletico Madrid racked up the goals in the second half, with both forwards netting again and Samuel Lino and Saul Niguez also on target.

Atletico’s emphatic win leaves them with eight points, one ahead of Lazio, second, and two ahead of former group leaders Feyenoord, while Celtic are last with only one.

“The team didn’t lower its rhythm of play, they were always looking for more,” a pleased Simeone told Movistar.

“It’s a crunch moment for everyone (in the group), it will be tricky until the end.”

The Atletico Madrid coach lavished praise on key player Griezmann, who is enjoying one of the best spells of his career.

Griezmann controversially left Atletico for Barcelona in 2019 but returned on loan in 2021 before signing permanently once more.

“When some didn’t agree with his return, I was convinced that he was born to play at Atletico Madrid,” Simeone told reporters.

“He turned this situation around … I’m lucky to have a player like Griezmann.

“I have no doubt that with what he’s got left to go at Atletico, he will be one of the team’s best ever players.”

Atletico bounced back strongly from a disappointing defeat at La Liga minnows Las Palmas on Friday to leave Brendan Rodgers’ side on the brink of elimination and record their 16th consecutive home victory across all competitions.

Griezmann struck in the sixth minute, his low effort skidding home with the aid of a deflection off Cameron Carter-Vickers, after Celtic gave him too much time and space on the edge of the box.

Celtic winger Luis Palma showed flashes at the other end as his team dominated the ball in the opening 20 minutes.

However, the game changed drastically when Japanese international Maeda was sent off for a high foot on Mario Hermoso.

Although the referee initially gave a yellow card, Maeda was dismissed after VAR intervention — Celtic’s third red card of the competition.

“It’s hard enough at this level with 11 men, that’s two games we’ve had players sent off,” Celtic captain Callum McGregor told TNT Sports.

“(It was) a humbling experience for us.”

After that it was one-way traffic at the Metropolitano, although Jan Oblak tipped away an accidental Morata miskick, heading towards his own goal.

Atletico doubled their lead just before the break when he headed home after a classy team move, with Griezmann finding Jose Gimenez, who nodded the ball back for Morata.

Joe Hart denied Angel Correa and Gimenez hit the bar with a header as Atletico pushed for the third, which came via an acrobatic finish from Griezmann.

The French forward, who was surprisingly withdrawn against Las Palmas with Atletico losing, went off early again, this time to a standing ovation.

Lino added a superb fourth, cutting in from the left and arcing an effort across Hart and into the net, before Correa struck the post.

Atletico Madrid’s fifth followed when Morata lashed home his fifth Champions League goal of the season from the edge of the box, giving the despairing Hart no chance.

Saul got in on the act in the final stages, stabbing home from close range after Lino’s attempted strike fell into his path to round off Atletico’s sizeable triumph.

“Their red card gave us an advantage, but we have to continue like this,” Griezmann told Movistar.

“Respecting our opponent, we tried to play as well as possible and not do silly things like try nutmegs.”

The French forward, operating in an attacking midfield role against Celtic, said he was open to playing there if the coach wanted him to.

“I’m learning by watching a lot of football on television — whatever it takes for the club and for Cholo (Simeone),” added Griezmann.

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