Kun Aguero inspired Atletico Madridto a stunning 4-0 victory over
Germany's Schalke 04 last night to assure the club's return to the group stage
of the Champions League for the first time in over a decade.
The young Argentine opened the scoring for his side and was at the heart of
their best moves on a magical night in the Vicente Calderon stadium.
Atletico went into the game with Aguero available again following the Olympic
Games.
He went straight into the starting 11 as the club looked for more firepower,
while also knowing that should they concede a goal, they would need to score
three times to reach the lucrative group stage.
The home side also drafted in left back Mario Pernia for the suspended
Antonio Lopez, while Maniche was a surprise inclusion in midfield.
Schalke had the first chance of the game as Kevin Kuranyi had a shot from
outside of the area, which went straight into the hands of Leo Franco.
There were some nervous moments for Atletico as the German side took
advantage of their nerves to look for that all important away goal, although
they failed to create any further clear-cut chances.
Everything changed after 20 minutes. Diego Forlan should have scored for
Atletico when put clean through. Marcelo Bordon cleared his effort off the line
only for Pernia to put it back into the area where Aguero headed home off the
post.
The goal served to open the game up totally with Schalke hitting Atletico on
the break and only John Heitinger's last gasp clearance denying them an almost
certain goal.
Ten minutes before half time Aguero turned creator on another break setting
up Simao, whose shot bounced back off the post as Atletico looked to take
control.
Atletico knew a Schalke goal would have left them struggling togo through.
But the side coached by Javier Aguirre wrapped things up in style in the second
half.
Forlan scored a low left-footed drive after 51 minutes and from that moment
Atletico were never in danger.
As Schalke were forced to attack, the pace of Aguero, Forlan and Maxi
Rodriguez cut them to pieces. Luis Garcia made it 3-0 with eight minutes
remaining after Aguero had broken the offside trap and Maxi rounded off the
scoring four minutes later.
By then they were already celebrating in the Calderon as Atletico put 10
difficult years behind them.
