Atletico crash out of Club World Cup despite Griezmann’s late strike

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Atletico Madrid bowed out of the FIFA Club World Cup in dramatic fashion on Monday night, claiming a 1-0 win over Botafogo RJ that was not enough to keep them alive in the tournament.

Antoine Griezmann delivered the decisive goal in the 87th minute, firing home a low pass into the right corner to give Los Rojiblancos a late lead.

But despite their relentless push in stoppage time, the solitary goal proved insufficient, as results elsewhere and goal differences denied them a place in the next round.

It was a night of frustration and missed opportunities for Diego Simeone’s side.

The Spanish giants dominated possession and created multiple scoring chances but were continuously thwarted by a resolute Botafogo defence and an outstanding performance by goalkeeper John Victor.

Griezmann, who came on at the start of the second half, immediately brought urgency and quality to Atletico’s play.

His impact was felt across the pitch, nearly doubling the lead in stoppage time with a powerful shot that was blocked inside the box.

Samuel Lino also came close in added time, testing John Victor with a curling effort, while Atletico forced several corners in the dying minutes, all of which were expertly cleared by the Brazilian side’s defenders.

Botafogo had their own moments. Midfielder Gregore had a header saved early in the second half, and Igor Jesus forced Jan Oblak into a smart stop with a shot aimed at the top corner.

VAR drama emerged in the first half when Julian Alvarez went down in the box after a challenge, sparking a penalty appeal. However, after a VAR check, referee Cesar Arturo Ramos waved play on, a decision that left Atletico’s bench fuming.

Despite making attacking substitutions, including the introductions of Angel Correa and Koke, and bringing on fresh legs like Samuel Lino, Simeone’s men could not find the crucial second goal needed to change their fate.

The match ended in bitter disappointment for Atletico Madrid, who must now shift focus back to domestic duties.

Their narrow win was not enough to overturn earlier results, marking an early and unexpected exit from the Club World Cup.

Meanwhile, Botafogo RJ qualified for the round of 16 along with PSG.