Chelsea-Atlético in March is far away in time, but the rojiblancos are still affected by the consequences of that defeat. That night, in addition to the elimination of the Champions League, the team suffered the expulsion of Savic, who saw the direct red for what the referee understood was an attack on Rüdiger. Orsato, the referee, included in the minutes that the player had used “Abusive language” when leaving the field, so that, between one thing and another, the Montenegrin fell four penalty matches.
I mean, Simeone he will not be able to count on Savic until matchday 5. And looking at the group that Atlético has played, in the absence of the calendar that specifically confirms which games they lose, it is certain that there will be four very tough games. The rojiblanco team has not had fortune and will be measured at Liverpool, Porto and Milan. And Cholo knows that he is losing a defensive bulwark and the coach will have to find solutions to replace an essential footballer. If they are suitable, Giménez, Felipe and Hermoso are called to be headlines, but there is no more (without going too far, Kondogbia had to play central against Elche this Sunday).
The defeat against the later European champion was a sporting blow, and it still pays for what happened then. Until the end of November, Savic will not participate in the Champions League. Liverpool, Porto and Milan are surely grateful for the absence of one of the pillars of Atlético’s defensive system.