Atletico Madrid battled their way back from a goal down to pull off a confidence-boosting 2-1 win at AS Monaco in Champions League Group A on Tuesday, despite a poor start to their season.
Atlético have won only one La Liga game and their problems at home looked to have followed them into Europe when some haphazard defending allowed Samuel Grandsir to score from close range in the 18th minute. Diego Simeone’s side continued to struggle and it took a flying save from Jan Oblak to prevent Jean-Eudes Aholou from doubling Monaco’s lead with a venomous long-range strike
Spanish striker Diego Costa and French forward Antoine Griezmann combined on a counter attack to bring the Los Rojiblancos back in the tie.
Diego Simeone’s side had fallen behind against the run of play in the 18th minute when winger Samuel Grandsir forced the ball home in a goalmouth scramble after good work from former Atleti hitman Radamel Falcao.
But Costa then ran onto a wonderful flick-on from Griezmann to fire a snap-shot low and hard past Monaco’s onrushing Swiss stopper Diego Benaglio to level the scores on the half-hour.
Uruguay International Central defender Jose Maria Gimenez then headed home a corner in first-half stoppage-time to bring the Los Colchineros in the lead.
The pitch cut up worryingly and groundsmen scrambled at half-time to pound in sods of detached turf.
Former Monaco striker Thierry Henry and ex-coach Didier Deschamps also attended the match.
Monaco’s Polish defender Kamil Glik appeared to be relishing his role, keeping tabs on Costa and apart from the goal did a solid job on the Atletico target man.
Falcao never stopped searching for an equaliser against his old club, almost earning a penalty in the 66th minute and lashing a shot just wide moments later.
Glik saw a last-gasp header go just wide with the fans on their feet, but Atletico were otherwise untroubled in the latter stages.
French international forward Thomas Lemar was back at the Stade Louis II after moving to The Wanda Metropolitano after the worldcup, and came on late as a substitute for Winger Angel Correa Atletico, Atleti put in the bag three important away points.