Twelve years have passed for Atlético de Madrid led by Argentine Diego Pablo Simeone to experience his worst moment. It is that for the first time in that period it remained outside the definition of all European competences losing this Tuesday by 2-1 in his visit to portin Portugal, a result that left him last in Group B of the Champions Leaguewhich did not catapult him into Europa Leaguethe maximum premium he could have on this last date.
That place had been left to him. Bayer Leverkusen, who had snatched a draw from him last week at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in a dramatic definition that included a penalty in favor of the ‘Colchonero’ in the last play of the match. That maximum penalty, in fact, ended up influencing the tie-break between the two teams, who tied on 5 points, but with a better dividend in the clashes between them for the Germans.
with the Argentines Rodrigo DePaul, Nahuel Molina and Angel Correa As a starter, the game was soon decided for Porto, thanks to the Iranian’s goal Mahdi Taremi and the Canadian Stefano Eustachiowhile Atlético hoped until the end for the goal, in the 50th minute of the second half, against Martian.
Hence, Atlético de Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League on date 5 and were left this Tuesday without the Europa League as they had done in 2009-10 and 2017-18, being third in their group and proclaimed champion of this tournament. , the second most important of the clubs of the Old Continent.
From 2010-11, prior to Simeone’s arrival, rojiblanco’s side had played European rounds beyond the group stage in each of the last eleven seasons up to this year. On that occasion, Quique Sanchez Flores He was the coach of Atlético, then reigning Europa League champion, but eliminated in the group stage: he finished third with 8 points, two behind Aris Thessaloniki and four behind Bayer Leverkusen, yes, the same one who has eliminated in this opportunity.
Since then he has been a two-time Champions League finalist (2013-14 and 2015-16), semi-finalist once (2016-17), three quarter-finals (2014-15, 2019-20 and 2021-22), eliminated in the round of 16 in two more (2018-19 and 2020-21) and two-time Europa League champion (2011-12 and 2017-18). As was the evolution of Atlético, it represents a step backwards.
In 2017-18, after being third in his group behind Chelsea and Roma, he passed the rounds (16th against Copenhagen, 8th against Lokomotiv Moscow, 4th against Sporting, in the semifinal against Arsenal and in the final against Marseille) to be champion.
He also raised the trophy in the first two times in the Europa League: 2009-10 and 2011-12, already with Simeone as coach, in what meant his first title, in a memorable final in Bucharest, with a victory for 3- 0 on Athletic Bilbao directed by the Argentine Marcelo Bielsa.
Only Koke Resurrection remains in the team, apart from Simeone and part of his technical staff, of that indelible moment, which was followed by seven other titles: two championships (2013-14 and 2020-21), a Copa del Rey (2012 -13 ), another Europa League (2017-18), two European Super Cups (2012 and 2018) and one from Spain (2014), so far today for a declining Atlético in Europe.
Atlético’s journey in Europe with Simeone
2022-23: Eliminated in the Champions League group stage.
2021-22: Champions League quarter-finals.
2020-21: Round of 16 of the Champions League.
2019-20: Champions League quarter-finals.
2018-19: Round of 16 of the Champions League.
2018: European Super Cup Champion
2017-18: Europa League champion
2016-17: Champions League semi-finals.
2015-16: Second place in the Champions League.
2014-15: Champions League quarter-finals.
2013-14: Second place in the Champions League.
2012-13: Round of 16 of the Europa League.
2012: European Super Cup Champion.
2011-12: Europa League champion.
Source: Clarin
