Antoine Griezmann stunner keeps Atletico Madrid's UCL hopes alive

Updated: May 17, 2024, 05:38 am

Antoine Griezmann's stunning goal kept Atletico Madrid's Champions League hopes alive as they grabbed a vital victory over Roma.

The France international crashed in a wonderful overhead kick to inspire a crucial 2-0 win over the Italians at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Kevin Gameiro added a late second after Bruno Peres was sent off for Roma to take Atletico's fight to qualify from Group C to the final game.

Atletico needed victory after back-to-back draws against Azerbaijan's Qarabag and Griezmann ended an eight-game goal drought when his side needed it most.

Roma remain in the driving seat though as they sit second, two points ahead of Atletico, and face Qarabag at home in the final game while Atletico head to Chelsea, who have already qualified after a 4-0 win in Azerbaijan.

The visitors made the early running but failed to make the breakthrough despite getting plenty of encouragement going forward.

Aleksandar Kolarov was a constant threat on the left but Roma failed to have a shot on target in the first half.

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Slowly, Atletico came into the match but their struggle for goals continued as Griezmann just missed Yannick Carrasco's centre.

Augusto Fernandez thought he had opened the scoring four minutes before half-time when his drive deflected past Alisson but the midfielder had already been penalised for handball.

Atletico needed a goal but Roma came closest to opening the scoring after 64 minutes when Radja Nainggolan's mishit cross struck the post.

Fernando Torres drove wide soon after as Atletico's desperation grew before the Wanda Metropolitano was lit up with relief and elation in the 69th minute.

Angel Correa kept the ball in to hook a cross over to Griezmann and the striker adjusted brilliantly to fire in a sublime overhead kick from seven yards.

Alisson saved from Torres and Atletico were given a further boost when Bruno Peres was sent off for a second yellow card with eight minutes left.

Griezmann then set up Gameiro to round Alisson and score from an angle five minutes from time as Atletico took the fight to the final game.