Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the second leg of the
Europa League last-32 tie between
Atletico Madrid and Copenhagen. The La Liga side hold a 4-1 lead after the first game in Denmark, but
Diego Simeone's team still need to get over the line on Thursday night. Let's see who features in each starting lineup...
ATLETICO MADRID XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Sergi; Koke, Gabi, Correa, Vitolo; Gamiero, Torres
ATLETICO MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Moya, Vrsaljko, Montoro, Thomas, Saul, Gaitan, Griezmann
COPENHAGEN XI: Andersen, Vavro, Luftner, Ankersen, Bengtsson, Gregus, Thomsen, Kvist, Pavlovic, Sotiriou, Fischer
COPENHAGEN SUBSTITUTES: Christensen, Roerslev, Falk, Skov, Matic, Holse, Wind
Well that's a stronger Atletico starting lineup than we anticipated! As expected, Antoine Griezmann drops down to the substitutes' bench but there is still an array of first-teamers in the side, including Jan Oblak, Diego Godin, Koke and Gabi.
However, Simeone has opted to hand a first European start to Sergi, who will begin at left-back. The 22-year-old has spent a number of years progressing through the ranks at the club and tonight will represent his big moment to impress.
As for Copenhagen,
Stale Solbakken names his strongest side as the Danes look to pull off a miracle at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Viktor Fischer will be looking to net a second goal in this tie, with the former Middlesbrough man having opened the scoring last week, while
Stephan Andersen and
William Kvist - formerly of Charlton Athletic and Wigan Athletic respectively - also feature.
Copenhagen have impressed against some big European sides over the years but they were blown away during the first leg, that after taking the lead!
Click here to read back on the contest from seven days ago.
Atletico are competing in this competition for the first time since 2012-13, where they reached the last 32 before losing out to Rubin Kazan. That early exit probably helped them go on to win the La Liga title a few months later. Since that campaign, Atletico have reached at least the last eight of the Champions League in four successive seasons, including finishing as runners-up twice. On paper, they are favourites for this competition.
In La Liga, Atletico have conceded just the nine goals in 24 matches. It's an astonishing record. They remain seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona. Atletico were not initially in good form when they returned to action in January but it has been a different story since January 28. Five wins in a row have been recorded, with 11 goals being scored and just one being conceded.
It's been a different story as far as Copenhagen are concerned. Solbakken's team are in fifth position in the top-flight table, 21 points adrift of the leaders! Achieving fourth spot appears to be their most realistic target. Last season, Copenhagen managed to reach the last 16 of this competition having finished third in a Champions League group which also included Leicester City and Porto. They eventually went out to Ajax, who reached the final.
Copenhagen were handed a pretty favourable group this time around in Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol and Fastav Zlin. However, they needed a 2-0 win over Tiraspol on matchday six to progress through to the knockout stages. As for Atletico, they dropped down into this competition having finished third behind Roma and Chelsea in their Champions League group.
PREDICTION! We are not expecting this match to be played at the highest intensity, but Atletico should still have plenty in reserve to ease to victory. The home side to win 2-0.
This is the first time that Atletico have ever hosted Copenhagen. The two previous ties have been held in Denmark, with Atletico managing to score six goals.
The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch in Spain. A reminder of the two starting lineups...
ATLETICO MADRID XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Sergi; Koke, Gabi, Correa, Vitolo; Gamiero, Torres
COPENHAGEN XI: Andersen, Vavro, Luftner, Ankersen, Bengtsson, Gregus, Thomsen, Kvist, Pavlovic, Sotiriou, Fischer
KICKOFF! Copenhagen get us underway.
Atletico are already into the rhythm here and almost create an opportunity within the first two minutes. However, Correa's touch inside the penalty area is heavy and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
Correa almost gets in again down the right side of the penalty area but Andersen comes out to smother the ball on the byline.
All of Atletico's good work is going through Correa and the wideman thinks he's about to get a shot away, but Luftner gets the block in.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Copenhagen (Kevin Gameiro)
This goal doesn't make a whole difference to what Copenhagen need to do this evening, but it's certainly made a statement. Gameiro is gifted the chance to shoot from 25 yards out and the forward manages to find the bottom corner of Andersen's net.
Already, you get the impression that this could be any score. Atletico win a corner on the right flank as Copenhagen struggle to cope with the frequent threat in the final third.
Nothing comes from the set piece but it does not take long for the home side to get back onto the offensive. Copenhagen have had one brief flurry forward and that has been it.
The tempo has slowed down a touch but it is still all Atletico. It's far from a capacity crowd this evening but the fans in attendance are doing their best to add to the atmosphere.
CHANCE! It should be 2-0. Torres receives the ball no more than eight yards from goal but he attempts an over-elaborate finish and a defender is able to make a partial block before Andersen claims at the second opportunity.
For the first time in the match, Copenhagen are enjoying a sustained spell of possession but I think it's because Atletico fancy a breather. They were relentless during the opening quarter-of-an-hour.
The intensity has certainly dropped. Atletico are playing Sevilla in three days' time and subconsciously, maybe they are already starting to think about that game.
Atletico win another corner on the right flank - literally everything has come down that side of the pitch - but Copenhagen are able to clear. At the other end, Sotiriou fires over the crossbar from 25 yards.
In all fairness to Copenhagen, they are trying to pass their way into the match but Atletico are doing an effective job in pressing the visitors back into their own final third.
Atletico don't make a habit of scoring lots of goals and they have seemingly decided not to push to extend their advantage at every given opportunity. Registering another clean sheet may be their priority now.
More of the same. Sorry for the lack of entertainment! Maybe Copenhagen are contributing to this in the sense that they want to come out of the tie with a respectable scoreline.
For anyone interested in Sergi, he hasn't had much to do at all so it is difficult to assess his performance. A few short passes to a teammate has been about it.
Through the half-hour mark and we have had just the four shots on goal. However, according to UEFA's official website, we have already had 431 completed passes! It feels like a training exercise.
Nearly another goal for Atletico. A floated pass finds the run of Juanfran, whose first-time cross is intended for Torres. The forward will have a tap-in if it reaches him, but the defender gets a foot in the way.
CHANCE! Another cross is sent into the penalty area and this time, Torres gets on the end of it. However, his header from 14 yards is directed wide of the far post.
Atletico have upped the tempo in the last few minutes but there have not been any real scares for Copenhagen, who have barely offered anything in the final third.
While we have another lull in the action, we should point out why Yannick Carrasco does not feature this evening. The Belgian winger looks to be close to joining Chinese side Dalian Yifang.
Click here to read that story.
Just the five minutes to go in this first half and we appear destined to go into the break as we are. Neither side are committing too many players forward in search of a goal.
I think Oblak just touched the ball with his hands for the first time. It took 41 minutes! The goalkeeper came to claim a cross from the byline.
The ball just won't fall for Torres. Atletico put together a wonderful move down the right with Correa's cross being deflected into the path of Torres, but the forward can't get enough on his header.
HALF TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Copenhagen
The referee correctly decides that there is no need for any added-on time and Atletico go into the break with a 1-0 lead thanks to that early Gameiro goal. Copenhagen have 45 minutes to score four goals to remain in this competition. It's not going to happen...
Atletico looked sharp from the opening whistle and the only surprise was that their goal did not come through Correa. Instead, it was Gameiro who was given the chance to shoot from distance and the forward made no mistake with a well-struck shot which was fired into the bottom corner.
I think that it is safe to say that both Saul and Griezmann will not be required this evening.
Nicolas Gaitan will probably get a run out at some stage, as will Thomas Partey in the centre of the park. Young defender Antonio Montoro will be hoping to make his first-ever appearance in Europe.
So much for Saul not being required this evening - he is coming on! Koke is the man to make way. Copenhagen are also making two changes, with Falk and Skov being introduced for Kvist and Fischer.
KICKOFF! Atletico get us back underway.
It has been a fast start to the second half from Atletico. They've already had a corner and forced Andersen into a nervy claim on the edge of his penalty area.
CHANCE! Out of nowhere, Copenhagen almost equalise! Sotiriou brushed off the attention of Godin before drilling a shot towards the far corner, only for Oblak to be equal to his 16-yard effort.
CHANCE! Correa and Vitolo combine inside the penalty area with Correa being rushed into firing a shot into the side-netting.
I had expected a dull second half but we have already had as much entertainment since the restart as we did throughout the whole of the opening 45 minutes. Copenhagen are prepared to leave a bit more space at the back.
It makes you wonder why Copenhagen did not attempt to play like this in the first half. The direct approach is causing problems, even for this formidable Atletico defence. Don't be surprised to see the Danes get a consolation goal.
CHANCE! Back come Atletico who nearly double their lead. Gabi's free kick is perfect for Godin but the centre-back powers a header marginally off target.
SHOT! Copenhagen are really throwing caution to the wind now. Pavlovic finds some space in the final third and sends a strike just wide of Oblak's left-hand post.
SUBSTITUTION! A second change for Atletico sees Gaitan replace Correa.
Copenhagen win a free kick around 25 yards out. It's a chance to test Oblak but Skov's shot goes straight into the wall.
CHANCE! Gameiro almost has his second. The Frenchman is released behind the Copenhagen defence by Gaitan but after moving closer to goal, Andersen comes out to make the block. Good goalkeeping.
The visitors have been in possession for a good minute and it's resulted in jeers from the home fans. However, nothing comes from the prolonged period with the ball.
SUBSTITUTION! Atletico's third and final switch sees Partey replace Gameiro.
With 20 minutes to go, both teams are still showing signs of fighting for pride on the night. On this second-half performance, you have to wonder how Copenhagen are only sitting in fifth place in Denmark's top flight.
Copenhagen win a corner on the left flank and an outswinging corner is decent enough. However, the ball evades everyone and goes out on the far side.
So close from Copenhagen. Three players put together a sharp move inside of the penalty area but the final control from around 10 yards is poor and the ball runs through to Oblak.
SHOT! Saul attempts to replicate Gameiro's effort from the first half but the midfielder cuts across the ball too sharply and his strike goes away from goal.
SHOT! Gaitan has been lively since his introduction but on this occasion, the Argentine failed to find the top corner after cutting inside onto his right foot.
SUBSTITUTION! Copenhagen's final alterations sees Wind come on for his first-team debut in place of Sotoriou.
In this second half, Sergi has had more joy down the left flank for Atletico but it's not been the most eventful of European debuts for the full-back. Still, he's going to complete 90 minutes in a first-team match. He will be delighted with that.
CHANCE! What an introduction this would have been! Wind receives the ball in the penalty area and gets a good effort away on his right foot, but Oblak gets down well to his right.
Copenhagen will take the positives from this match. Not only have they managed to get 10 shots on goal in comparison to Atletico's 12, they have also had 45% of possession, which is an excellent effort given the circumstances.
Atletico come close to creating potentially their final opportunity of the night but Partey fails to get the ball to Torres, who was waiting on the edge of the penalty area.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Copenhagen
The full-time whistle goes in Spain and Atletico have registered a 1-0 victory over a game Copenhagen thanks to Gameiro's early strike. It means that Simeone's team progress through to the last 16 by a 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
That will be all for
Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.