UCL | Atletico Madrid 2-0 Lazio: Aquile take second

Lazio knew it would be unlikely to top this group, as their defeat to Atletico Madrid sends them through as runners-up to the Champions League Round of 16.

Both teams were already qualified for the next phase, but only a Biancocelesti win would give them first place and top seed status in the draw for the Round of 16. Ivan Provedel’s last-gasp header famously earned a point back in September. Nicolò Rovella was suspended with Alessio Romagnoli, Patric and Gustav Isaksen out of action. Atleti missed Thomas Lemar, Vitolo and Pablo Barrios, but surprisingly dropped Alvaro Morata.

It was a nightmare start for the Biancocelesti, as within six minutes Samuel Lino had won the challenge with a weak Adam Marusic and rolled across for Griezmann to find the bottom corner, steering it with the inside of his right boot from 12 yards.

Mattia Zaccagni threatened with an angled drive that skimmed the upright, then Mateo Guendouzi’s touch let him down, while Ciro Immobile prodded inches wide of the near post from a Luis Alberto pull-back.

Provedel parried a Lino strike and Mario Hermoso had the ball in the back of the net on 38 minutes with a spectacular volley from a tight angle. However, it was disallowed because Lino was offside and interfering with play, standing right in front of Provedel and trying to head the ball.

Atleti did get their second eventually, as Lazio failed to clear the ball and allowed several exchanges in the box until Lino’s right-foot volley into the far top corner from 12 yards.

Felipe Anderson barely tested Jan Oblak and Taty Castellanos scuffed the finish straight at the goalkeeper too, while Provedel was alert on the Memphis Depay free kick and fortunate Morata couldn’t keep the rebound on target.

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Lazio

Griezmann 6 (A), Lino 51 (A)