Five-star Atleti expose Frankfurt’s defensive fragility

Both teams came off emphatic wins before their return to the Champions League action. Dino Toppmöller’s side scored half a dozen before the 50th-minute mark away at Bundesliga basement club Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Atleti scored five in the Madrid derby for the first time since 1950.

Leverkusen conceded inside the first ten minutes against Galatasaray, and they were a goal behind in this one after only four minutes. With his suspended father watching from the tribune, Giuliano Simeone beat Nathaniel Brown with ease to set up Giacomo Raspadori’s first goal in red and white colors.

Once again, Frankfurt responded well to an early deficit as Farès Chaïbi won a corner-kick for his effort right away. However, conceding the early goal left them vulnerable at the back, with Simeone involved in two more promising chances for the hosts before the 10th minute.

In the next five minutes, Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez were presented with clear-cut chances, but they couldn’t put the finishing touch beyond Champions League debutant Kauã Santos.

Considering Atleti’s complete dominance in the first twenty minutes, Frankfurt could have easily been in the territory Gladbach endured on Sunday. However, the hosts fluffed their lines multiple times with the goal at their mercy.

That was until Robin Le Normand popped up with his second goal in as many games. The center-back nutmegged Burkardt with his close-range finish after Griezmann’s flick was deflected by both Kauã Santos and Nnamdi Collins.

The two strikers combined for Atleti’s third in the final minute of the first-half. Grizi reached the 200-goal mark with a simple finish as Alvarez turned provider after scoring five goals in his last two matches.