Fri, Nov 28, 2014 page18

• Mandzukic hat-trick in Atletico win

  DECISIVE: Olympiakos were noticeably rusty in their first competitive game in 17 days, with Atletico making the most of the Greek club’s weaknesses in a 4-0 win

  • AFP, MADRID
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  Spanish champions Atletico Madrid secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with 4-0 over Olympiakos on Wednesday thanks to a hat-trick from Mario Mandzukic.

  A fast start by last season’s Champions League runners-up was rewarded when Raul Garcia prodded home at the near post after an awful attempted clearance from former Atletico goalkeeper Roberto.

  Mandzukic suffered a broken nose when Olympiakos beat Atletico 3-2 in their group opener, but the Croatian had a far more enjoyable evening this time round and opened his account with a tap in after Alberto Botia failed to cut out Cristian Ansaldi’s low cross.

  

  Atletico Madrid’s Mario Mandzukic, center, scores his second goal against Olympiakos during their match at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday.

  Photo: Reuters

  He completed his hat-trick with two powerful headed finishes in three minutes just after the hour mark.

  Victory for Juventus away to Malmo FF in their Group A clash means that los Colchoneros just need to avoid defeat by two or more goals when they travel to Turin, Italy, in two weeks’ time to top the group.

  “We know it will still be very difficult,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “No one would have thought we would be in this position [after the first game] and thanks to the effort of the players, we have won four games in a row and can win the group.”

  Olympiakos, meanwhile, now need a big favor from Atletico if they are to progress as they need to beat Malmo at home next time out and hope Simeone’s men win in Italy.

  “We didn’t have our best night, that is for sure and Atletico Madrid is a very strong team,” Olympiakos manager Michel said. “What I didn’t like most was not being able to compete like we have in the other games.”

  The visitors had not played a competitive game in 17 days as the Greek Super League was suspended following the recent international break due to a violent attack on a senior official of the country’s referee board.

  The Greek club looked decidedly rusty as Atletico opened them up time and again down the right in the opening stages.

  The first of many forays forward by rightback Juanfran caused panic in the Olympiakos area after just two minutes, but neither Garcia or Mandzukic could bundle the ball home.

  Mandzukic was then just centimeters from connecting with another low cross from Juanfran to the near post.

  However, Olympiakos failed to learn their lesson as the opening goal arrived in similar circumstances when Roberto fired an attempted clearance straight at Juanfran’s feet and this time his cross was converted at the near post by Garcia.

  Roberto redeemed himself somewhat by getting down low to his left to turn Ansaldi’s fierce drive behind and Tiago should have down better when he fired well over from a well-worked free-kick.

  A lack of pace cost Mandzukic moments later when he was played in behind the Olympiakos defense before being crowded out by a bunch of recovering defenders.

  However, he was presented his first goal of the evening when Botia swiped at fresh air from Ansaldi’s low cross and the Croatian slotted home at the far post.

  The former Bayern Munich striker was first to threaten after halftime, but his goal-bound effort was deflected behind by Alejandro Dominguez.

  Mandzukic was perfectly placed again to make it 3-0 just after the hour mark when he powered a header into the bottom corner from Arda Turan’s inviting cross.

  Moments later he sealed his first hat-trick in Atletico colors with another header from Gabi’s free-kick that had too much power for Roberto.

  Mandzukic was then withdrawn to a hero’s ovation from the Estadio Vicente Calderon crowd as Antoine Griezmann entered the fray.

  The Frenchman thought he had added a fifth goal when he headed home at the far post from Koke’s corner, but referee Wolfgang Stark ruled it out for a foul on Roberto, much to the dismay of the home fans.
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