Atletico Madrid have suffered a nightmare dress rehearsal for facing Celtic as a near-40 year record was broken in La Liga.
The Spanish giants rocked up to Celtic Park last week and denied the Hoops what looked set to be a first Champions League home group stage win in over a decade. A night brimming with drama in Glasgow was just the dress rehearsal for Diego Simeone’s men to do battle with Brendan Rodgers and Co in the picturesque Metropolitano Stadium, and Atleti were helped out by playing on Friday evening ahead of Tuesday’s ding-dong. Meanwhile the Scottish Premiership champions must travel a lengthy distance to Ross County on Saturday before heading to the Spanish capital.
And Simeone’s side stuttered to mid-table Las Palmas with the Gran Canaria side previously winless at home against Atleti in 36 years, their last triumph coming in 1987. But that record was smashed after Kirian Rodriguez and Benito Ramirez del Toro were on target, and despite a late equaliser from Parkhead scorer Alvaro Morata, the Champions League side suffered a first defeat since September.
There were fears star man Antoine Griezmann had suffered a knock when he was replaced on the hour mark with Angel Correa, but Viaplay Sports commentary hinted they hadn’t seen the Frenchman hobbling off. Atleti remain three points off the top of the league with Real Madrid leading the pack.
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