It was the Spaniards who were left smiling tonight as Atletico Madrid beat last season’s quarter-finalist 4-0 to make it through to the group stage. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Javier Aguirre’s men got back on level terms through Aguero, before further goals from Forlan, Luis Garcia and Maxi Rodriguez put the result well beyond doubt. Schalke had hung in there looking for the vital away goal, but they will now have to settle for Uefa Cup football this season.
First Half
Atletico had the luxury of welcoming back Sergio Aguero from the Olympics while the visitors were able to call on the fit-again Jermaine Jones in midfield. Prior to kick off a period of remembrance was held for the victims of the recent plane crash in Madrid.
There was a cautious start to the game with both sides just settling their nerves. The first duel between Marcelo Bordon and Sergio Aguero was won by the Schalke defender as he matched the Argentinean for pace before fending him off with ease.
The first shot of any note on goal came from Kevin Kuranyi on six minutes, but the German international’s effort was dealt with easily by Leo Franco. Two minutes later and Maxi Rodriguez let fly with a wild effort after the ball had fallen to him 20 meters out.
The visitors first corner arrived on ten minutes, but Christian Pander’s ball didn’t make it past the near post and the set-piece danger passed. Schalke had settled well in the opening ten minutes and another effort went in from Pander, but again the goal wasn’t in danger.
Atleti then began to press and caused a few hearts in mouths in the Schalke ranks when Ujfalusi played a nice ball over the top to Maxi Rodriguez. The midfielder beat Schober with a ball into the middle but Schalke cleared the danger. A minute later though and Javier Aguirre’s side were in front.
Diego Forlan found himself with lots of room in the penalty area but saw his shot headed off the line by Marcelo Bordon. The ball stayed active and when the cross came back into the centre from Perea, the Schalke defence had not picked up Aguero, and he placed a great header into the back of the net.
Following the goal, Schalke were put under increasing pressure by the home side, for whom the ball seemed to be bouncing favourably. The Germans were having problems keeping their offensive moves going with possession being lost too easily in the forward areas.
With 34 minutes gone the Schalke back line were once again shown up with a great Madrid attack, which very nearly resulted in a goal. Forlan beat Benedikt Höwedes out on the right before squaring the ball to Maniche. Some intricate play with Aguero followed before Simao eventually curled in a shot that hit the base of Mathias Schober’s post before being cleared.
There was a rare moment of Schalke danger five minutes before the break, but neither Ivan Rakitic nor Heiko Westermann were able to trouble Leo Franco in the Atletico goal.
The 1-0 scoreline at half time meant the tie was all square on aggregate with all to play for in the second half.
Second Half
Neither trainer chose to make any changes at the break, and Madrid were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second 45 minutes. Aguero forced an early corner, while Raul Garcia fired in a hopeful effort that hit the side netting. Schalke’s first attack of the half however broke down when Rakitic misplaced his final ball to Kevin Kuranyi.
Six minutes in though, and Madrid grabbed their second goal of the evening. Aguero fed the ball towards Diego Forlan on the edge of the box, and the Uruguayan took advantage of a slip from Marcelo Bordon and poor positioning from Höwedes to slot a cool finish past Schober to put Atleti firmly in the driving seat.
Schalke looked to respond and forced another corner, but once again the delivery, this time from Rakitic, wasn’t good enough and Leo Franco was able to collect easily.
An over-hit and misplaced back pass from Luis Perea was the most dangerous effort on the Madrid goal at the start of the second half, but once again the ensuing corner came to nothing.
The Königsblauen’s best chance of the evening thus far came on 63 minutes following a cross from Heiko Westermann. The defender flanked from the right into the six-yard box, but both Fabian Ernst and Kevin Kuranyi were unable to make contact.
Fred Rutten then decided to send on Rafinha and push Heiko Westermann forward into midfield. The move very nearly paid dividends on 70 minutes when Ernst received the ball from Rafinha before feeding it into the middle. Westermann got on the end of it, but his shot was well parried by the goalkeeper.
With 15 minutes remaining the game was becoming interesting with Schalke getting more space to play in and Atletico seemingly happy to sit back and hit their guests on the break.
However, with Schalke doing all they could to score the away goal that would turn the tie in their favour, Atletico broke forward and scored the decisive goal themselves on 82 minutes.
Man of the Match Aguero beat Bordon before unleashing a shot that Schober could only parry. The young Argentinean then coolly fired the ball back into the middle where substitute Luis Garcia was on hand to slot home.
To make matters worse, four minutes later Madrid were handed a penalty and Schalke reduced to ten men when Pander was sent off for a professional foul on Simao. Maxi Rodriguez stepped up to fire home the spot kick and start the party inside the Vicente Calderon Stadium.
Goals:
1-0 Aguero (19)
2-0 Forlan (51)
3-0 Luis Garcia (82)
4-0 Maxi Rodriguez (87)
Yellow cards:
Forlan (52), Pernia (53), Maxi Rodriguez (65) / Ernst (31), Jones (45), Altintop (55)
Red Cards: Pander (86)
Atletico Madrid: Leo Franco, Perea, Heitinga, Ujfalusi, Pernia, Maniche (Paulo Assuncao 71), Maxi Rodriguez, Raul Garcia, Simao, Aguero (Sinama Pongolle 87), Forlan (Luis Garcia 71)
Schalke: Schober, Westermann, Höwedes, Bordon, Pander, Ernst, Jones (Asamoah 78), Kobiashvili (Rafinha 65), Rakitic (Krstajic 91), Altintop, Kuranyi
Referee: Frank de Bleeckere (Bel)
Attendance: 55,000
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