The 2014 Champions League final will be a Madrid derby, with Atlético Madrid downing Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to set up a meeting with their cross-town rivals Real. Chelsea took the lead through Fernando Torres, though allowed Adrián López to draw their Spanish visitors level on the stroke of halftime. Further second-half goals from Diego Costa and Arda Turan wrapped up a comprehensive victory for Diego Simeone's side.
Chelsea vs. Atlético Madrid: Final score 1-3 (1-3 aggregate), Rojiblancos come from behind to make final
Atlético Madrid came from a goal behind to down Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, setting up a Madrid derby Champions League final.
Jamie McDonald
More from our team sites
More from our team sites
The opening exchanges were surprisingly gripping, with Chelsea seeing more possession than they'd had in practically the entire fixture at the Calderón. They constantly probed an Atléti side who stayed characteristically deep and compact, though who went perilously close to opening the scoring inside five minutes. Koke's cross looped up and caught Mark Schwarzer off-guard, with only the crossbar preventing the Rojiblancos from taking a fluke lead.
Despite seeing more of the ball from open play, Chelsea's best chances came from set-pieces. Willian's free-kick from the edge of the box looped up and over the Atléti crossbar with Thibaut Courtois beaten, before David Luiz teed himself up for an overhead kick on Branislav Ivanović's long throw; his effort flashing just wide of the post.
Eventually, inside the final 10 minutes of the half, Chelsea had a reward for their impressive start. A move that looked like it was crafted on the Cobham training pitch saw Ivanović move infield to spot a darting run wide right from Willian. He laid off César Azpilicueta, whose drilled cross was met first-time in the box by ex-Atléti forward Torres, who refused to celebrate after his shot took a slight deflection on its way past Courtois.
However, ecstasy turned to agony for the home fans before the referee had time to blow the half-time whistle. Eden Hazard crucially failed to track the run of Juanfran down the right just a minute before the break, and was made to pay as the Spanish right-back flicked a cross into the box for Adrián to scuff past Schwarzer. It was an away goal, and despite doing relatively little of note in the first half, Atléti knew they just needed to sit back and keep things tight in the second to reach the final.
Chelsea's task was extremely difficult, and the last thing they needed was to give Atléti another gift. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened within 15 minutes of the restart, when substitute Samuel Eto'o felled Diego Costa in the penalty area. The Spanish striker stepped up to score from the spot, and suddenly the Blues needed to score twice to progress.
Must Reads
They continued to cause problems from set-pieces, with David Luiz crashing Willian’s free-kick against the post with a close-range header. But, from open play, they simply couldn’t prise Atléti open a second time. The more desperate they became, the more dangerous their visitors were, and they were made to pay the price inside the final 20 minutes. Turan played a one-two with the woodwork on the end of Juanfran’s cross, tucking the ball into an empty net at the second time of asking.
Hazard had a chance to score a consolation in stoppage time when one-on-one with Courtois, though the Belgian stopper denied his compatriot from point-blank range.
Chelsea: Schwarzer; Cole (Eto’o 54’), Terry, Cahill, Ivanović; Luiz, Ramires; Hazard, Willian (Schürrle 77’), Azpilicueta; Torres (Ba 67’).
Goals: Torres (36’).
Atlético Madrid: Courtois; Luis, Godín, Miranda, Juanfran; Koke, Suárez, Tiago, Turan (Rodríguez 84’); Adrián (García 66’), Costa (Sosa 76’).
Goals: Adrián (44’), Costa (pen. 60’), Turan (72’).
See More:
