[DavidMc]

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Aberdeen
UEFA Cup Group Stage

Battling Aberdeen were left languishing at the foot of Uefa Cup Group B after Atletico Madrid eased to victory.

The star-studded home side made a whirlwind start and a Mariano Pernia drive that struck the post was the closest of three early chances.

Aberdeen weathered the storm until the stroke of half-time, when Michael Hart felled Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan scored from the penalty spot.

Sabrosa Simao's 61st minute free-kick went in off keeper Jamie Langfield.

There had been four changes in Aberdeen's illness-hit starting line-up.

Chris Clark, Sone Aluko, Barry Nicholson and Lee Mair dropped out the side, with Jackie McNamara, Richard Foster, Karim Touzani and Derek Young coming in.

Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre made a host of changes to a side that had scored 11 goals in their last three home games.

Former Manchester United striker Forlan started alongside Aguero up front, while ex-Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia also came in to emphasise the strength of the Spanish side's multi-million pound squad.

Garcia had a chance to put Atletico ahead within seconds of kick-off only to take a heavy touch when found in the clear 15 yards from goal.

The inside of the post came to the Dons' rescue when Pernia's powerful effort from 25 yards bounced across the face of goal before spinning clear.

And Touzani did well to take the ball off the toe of Aguero in front of goal.

Aberdeen began to play themselves back into the game, with a couple of dangerous balls flashing across the Atletico penalty box.

The visitors finally got an effort on target after 27 minutes, with goalkeeper Christian Abbiati grabbing Scott Severin's driven 25-yard free-kick at the second attempt.

But Atletico continued to dominate, with Langfield getting a touch to a Garcia drive across the face of goal.

The Dons suffered a double injury blow when McNamara limped off to be replaced with Clark then Smith decided he too could not carry on.

And no sooner had Jeffrey De Visscher come on as his replacement than Michael Hart, who had started in an unfamiliar central defensive role, upended Aguero and Forlan sent Langfield the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Aguero failed to come out for the second half and his replacement, Simao, gave Atletico a two-goal cushion with 30 minutes remaining.

His curling free-kick over the defensive wall was touched on to the post by Langfield's fingertips but bounced over the line off the unlucky goalkeeper's back.

A De Visscher shot flew wide from 22 yards and Lee Miller missed the ball completely when just in front of goal as Aberdeen pressed forward.

Clark fired over from 20 yards, but there was to be no comeback for Jimmy Calderwood's side.

Aberdeen must now hope that Panathinaikos can beat Lokomotiv Moscow and Atletico defeat Copenhagen in the next round of matches to keep the Scots' qualification hopes alive by the time they host the Danes in their final game.



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Atletico Madrid: Abbiati, Antonio Lopez, Pernia, Motta, Cleber Santana, Forlan, Luis Garcia, Aguero, Maxi, Fabiano Eller, Pablo.
Subs: Falcon, Raul Garcia, Ze Castro, Reyes, Maniche, Mista, Simao.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Hart, Diamond, McNamara, Byrne, Severin, Jamie Smith, Foster, Touzani, Miller, Young.
Subs: Nicholson, Clark, Soutar, Considine, Maguire, De Visscher, Aluko.

Aberdeen were unlucky. Had some good spells. They should be reasonably proud of the performance because they played some good football.