Atlético Madrid 2 - 1 Marseille(Sergio Leonel Aguero on target)
shamar said
23:38 10/01 2008
MADRID, October 1 (Champions League) - Atletico Madrid took a big step towards the Champions League knockout stages on Wednesday night after seeing off Marseille 2-1 to make it two wins from two in Group D.
All the goals came in an action-packed opening 22 minutes at the Vicente Calderon, with strikes from Sergio Aguero and Raul Garcia for the home side sandwiching an equaliser from Mamadou Niang.
The victory gives Atletico a maximum points haul following their 3-0 mauling of PSV Eindhoven, while Marseille now have a mountain to climb having also lost their opening game at home to Liverpool.
Crowd disturbances prior to the match in the section where the Marseille fans were located threatened to overshadow the football, with confrontations between riot police and the visiting fans lasting for around 10 minutes.
But once that incident had calmed down - there was no more obvious trouble inside the stadium during the game - it was the players that took centre stage in an entertaining encounter in the Spanish capital.
Marseille forward Mathieu Valbuena set the scene in the first 20 seconds with an unchecked run forward and low shot that fizzed just wide of the far post.
That would have been a nightmare start for Atletico in their first home Champions League group clash in over a decade, but the Rojiblancos responded superbly with the opening goal from Aguero.
Maxi Rodriguez chipped a pass over the top and his fellow Argentinian Aguero did the rest, neatly pulling the ball down before slipping inside his marker and drilling a low shot past Steve Mandanda.
That goal came in the fourth minute and it was almost 2-0 soon after when Aguero found himself clean through, but his attempted lob over Mandanda was saved at the expense of a corner.
Both teams seemed intent on attacking from the off and, after both had gone close, it was no real surprise to see Marseille equalise in the 14th minute through Niang.
Laurent Bonnart did well to get to the goalline before dinking a cross to the far post where Niang powered home a header past Leo Franco.
Parity lasted just eight minutes though before Atletico found themselves back in front.
A scything challenge by Taye Taiwo on Aguero near the touchline earned Atletico a free-kick, from which Mariano Pernia's low cross was diverted in by Garcia at the far post.
The game settled down after that, although both sides still seemed more inclined to go forward and Niang almost drew Marseille level just before the break with a long-range effort that Leo Franco did superbly to tip away.
Marseille suffered a blow at the start of the second half when they lost Hatem Ben Arfa to injury, and Eric Gerets' side then almost found themselves 3-1 down when Maxi's clever back-heel drifted just wide of the far post with Mandanda beaten.
Atletico held the upper hand and Mandanda had to produce heroics to tip over Florent Sinama-Pongolle's 20-yard effort as the home side pushed hard for a third goal.
Marseille were not without their chances though, and Valbuena spun well on the edge of the box before drilling a shot just wide.
The French outfit were finding chances hard to come by in the closing stages, but Niang went close from the edge of the box before Taiwo headed a corner wide when perhaps he should have done better.
That injury-time chance from Taiwo proved to be Marseille's final effort on goal and Atletico were left to celebrate what could prove to be a vital wi
All the goals came in an action-packed opening 22 minutes at the Vicente Calderon, with strikes from Sergio Aguero and Raul Garcia for the home side sandwiching an equaliser from Mamadou Niang.
The victory gives Atletico a maximum points haul following their 3-0 mauling of PSV Eindhoven, while Marseille now have a mountain to climb having also lost their opening game at home to Liverpool.
Crowd disturbances prior to the match in the section where the Marseille fans were located threatened to overshadow the football, with confrontations between riot police and the visiting fans lasting for around 10 minutes.
But once that incident had calmed down - there was no more obvious trouble inside the stadium during the game - it was the players that took centre stage in an entertaining encounter in the Spanish capital.
Marseille forward Mathieu Valbuena set the scene in the first 20 seconds with an unchecked run forward and low shot that fizzed just wide of the far post.
That would have been a nightmare start for Atletico in their first home Champions League group clash in over a decade, but the Rojiblancos responded superbly with the opening goal from Aguero.
Maxi Rodriguez chipped a pass over the top and his fellow Argentinian Aguero did the rest, neatly pulling the ball down before slipping inside his marker and drilling a low shot past Steve Mandanda.
That goal came in the fourth minute and it was almost 2-0 soon after when Aguero found himself clean through, but his attempted lob over Mandanda was saved at the expense of a corner.
Both teams seemed intent on attacking from the off and, after both had gone close, it was no real surprise to see Marseille equalise in the 14th minute through Niang.
Laurent Bonnart did well to get to the goalline before dinking a cross to the far post where Niang powered home a header past Leo Franco.
Parity lasted just eight minutes though before Atletico found themselves back in front.
A scything challenge by Taye Taiwo on Aguero near the touchline earned Atletico a free-kick, from which Mariano Pernia's low cross was diverted in by Garcia at the far post.
The game settled down after that, although both sides still seemed more inclined to go forward and Niang almost drew Marseille level just before the break with a long-range effort that Leo Franco did superbly to tip away.
Marseille suffered a blow at the start of the second half when they lost Hatem Ben Arfa to injury, and Eric Gerets' side then almost found themselves 3-1 down when Maxi's clever back-heel drifted just wide of the far post with Mandanda beaten.
Atletico held the upper hand and Mandanda had to produce heroics to tip over Florent Sinama-Pongolle's 20-yard effort as the home side pushed hard for a third goal.
Marseille were not without their chances though, and Valbuena spun well on the edge of the box before drilling a shot just wide.
The French outfit were finding chances hard to come by in the closing stages, but Niang went close from the edge of the box before Taiwo headed a corner wide when perhaps he should have done better.
That injury-time chance from Taiwo proved to be Marseille's final effort on goal and Atletico were left to celebrate what could prove to be a vital wi