Three minutes of added time then and it doesn't look like Torres is going to achieve the impressive feat of 100 Atletico goals tonight, even though he was just about to smash the ball home before Dedechko turned Correa's cross in!
89'
D. Dedechko is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLL FOR ATLETICO! Some more heartbreak for Astana now as Correa flashes a ball into the box looking for Torres, but which is diverted into the net by Dedechko for an own-goal! Four-nil!
88'
Shouldn't be too much added time allocated from the referee as Astana are wanting to get put out of their misery and head back on the long flight to Kazakhstan. They don't have to wait too much longer!
86'
Kabananga and Godin get involved in an entertaining duel down the right wing as they battle for supremacy to try and win a bouncing ball a few yards in from the touchline. Eventually the Uruguayan wins the battle with his strength and commitment which pretty much sums up the story of those two players this evening.
84'
Z. Kozhamberdy enters the game and replaces S. Muzhikov.
The only real undeveloped storyline in this clash now is Torres' pursuit of his 100th Colchoneros goal. The substitute has certainly had some decent service in behind the Astana defence, but has been denied with two very similar strikes by the proactive goalkeeper, Eric.
82'
SAAAAAAVE FROM OBLAK! Kethevoama, who has been far and away Astana's most dangerous player tonight, gives the Atletico goalkeeper something to think about with a lashes left-footed strike towards the bottom corner. Eventually it is food and drink for the Slovenian though who makes the comfortable stop.
80'
B. Kulbekov enters the game and replaces A. Shchetkin.
Ten minutes remaining in the Spanish capital and Atletico more or less have had all three points wrapped up since taking the lead in the first half. Astana have improved since their half-time break and Oblak as actually been called into action a few times, but they look pretty much doomed to finish last in the group.
78'
SAVE FROM ERIC! For the moment Fernando Torres is denied is 100th Atletico Madrid goal as he runs in behind the Astana defence before attempting to dink the ball over the oncoming keeper, who remains big to make the solid save!
76'
Carrasco drives forward down the left again and ignores the overlapping run of Siqueira before curling a teasing cross into the danger area. It wasn't the ball that Torres wanted though as he made a different run, which means Astana are awarded the goal kick as the pass flies behind.
74'
Saul has been impressive on the ball in this second half as he has dropped into a slightly deeper role with Oliver playing more advanced. The opening goalscorer has displayed a veteran head at times in those central areas but it does help when you have the calm nature of Gabi next to you.
Minute
Description
72'
Just under 20 minutes to go and the highly unlikely Astana comeback we were all expecting just has not come to fruition. The visitors have actually done slightly better in their possession and pressing after the break, but the gulf in class has always been present.
70'
Atletico haven't exactly turned on the style in the second period but the series of substitutions from Simeone has meant that the newly introduced players are still trying to find their feet in the final third. After all, they have a completely different strike force out there now after the departure of Griezmann and Martinez.
68'
Simeone follows suit and makes his third and final change, which further highlights the depths of his impressive squad. The latest switch sees Martinez replaced by Fernando Torres, who is aiming to net his 100th goal for Los Colchoneros this evening. He probably won't have a better chance!
67'
Fernando Torres enters the game and replaces J. Martínez.
First change of the match from Astana and it will see Zhukov come off to be replaced by Igor Pikalkin. Probably not the greatest game to be expected to make an impact...
65'
SAVE FROM OBLAK! Astana's best chance of the match comes to Kethevoama, who bullets a header at goal from the centre of the box, only to see his attempt beat away by the Atletico keeper, who does so well to make the block having not been called into action all night!
64'
I. Pikalkin enters the game and replaces G. Zhukov.
63'
Óliver Torres has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Gabi.
GOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL FOR ATLETICO MADRID! AND IT IS OLIVER TORRES! Gabi wins the ball brilliantly in midfield and darts forward with authority before playing the ball sideways for the substitute inside the box, who delightfully dinks the ball over the oncoming keeper! Three-nil!
62'
Kabananga uses his physicality for one of the first occasions in the match as he drops deep into midfield and ushers off the challenge of Savic before eventually earning the free kick inside the centre circle, subsequently taking some pressure of the Kazakh side.
60'
Fantastic from Carrasco! The 22-year-old somehow keeps the ball in down the left touchline and then opens up his stride to leave the defender for dead! He eventually cuts inside on his right foot before firing a strike at the near post, but Eric is equal to it and makes the block!
58'
Á. Correa enters the game and replaces A. Griezmann.
Second change of the match from Simeone and it is probably a sensible one as he withdraws Griezmann in favour of Angel Correa. The Frenchman has played a lot of football so far this season, so it makes sense to give him a little rest when they game is more or less wrapped up.
56'
We get our first real glimpse of Oliver Torres as the young Spaniard drives into space through the middle before penetrating into the final third. The former Porto loanee then attempts to slip an incisive pass into the box for Griezmann, but Dedechko out-muscles the Frenchman to snatch possession away.
54'
Carrasco has confidence oozing through his veins at the moment and definitely seems like he is enjoying himself out there. The Belgian's Atletico career is yet to really catch fire since his move from Monaco in the summer, but you can see tonight why Simeone took the gamble on him. A quite electrifying winger at times.
52'
Saul, who netted his first Champions League goal for Los Colchoneros in the first half, seems eager to double his tally in the same match as he cuts in from the left wing before charging down on goal. He eventually unleashes a shot from around 25-yards out, but it is slashed wide of the mark.
50'
Astana have came out after the break with a fire in their belly as although they cannot match the talent of Atletico, they can certainly match the effort, which they haven't really done so far. That yellow card for Akhmetov was over the top, but at least the visitors are giving Atleti something little to think about.
49'
E. Akhmetov gets yellow.
48'
First yellow card of the match now and it goes to an Astana player as Akhmetov scythes down Juanfran a yard or so in from the touchline in what is a very poor challenge. It takes a lot to make the Atletico right-back go down in pain, so you know this tackle is bad.
46'
Óliver Torres enters the game and replaces Tiago.
We are back under way in the Vicente Calderon and there is a substitution to report from Diego Simeone. It will see Tiago come off to be replaced by talented youngster, Oliver Torres.
43'
The Atletico defenders are starting to get a little bored by having no defensive duties to attend to and they are looking to get more involved in an attacking sense. Siqueira, who regularly gets forward anyway, attempts to catch out Eric with a lashed strike from 30 yards down the left channel, but it goes high and wide over the bar.
41'
We may not even be halfway through this game but already Atletico Madrid are starting to pull out some party tricks to entertain the fans. The latest scourge of the Astana defence is Carrasco, who cheekily and brilliantly nutmegs Akhmetov with a delightful roll of the ball through the legs. Superb.
39'
SAVE FROM ERIC! Carrasco, who has switched over to the right-hand side now after previously popping up on the left, finds a yard of space before whipping a superb cross to the front post, which allows Martinez to bullet a diving header towards goal, only to be denied by the strong hand of the Astana keeper!
37'
The quality in possession is just not there for Astana in the final third, which, consequently, is just heaping more and more pressure on the stressed defensive backline. They need someone, anyone, to just keep the ball for 30 seconds or so to curb this Atletico ascendancy.
35'
Ten minutes remaining in this first period and Astana are already pretty desperate for their half-time break as they have been under the cosh from pretty much the opening whistle. They need to keep the ball for a little while for a little bit of respite.
33'
It hasn't been the prettiest opening half-an-hour or so from Simeone's men, but they simply do not need to be anywhere near their best to successfully overcome the Kazakh side this evening, who have been desperately below par. Makes you wonder why their coach left so many of their star players out of the team!
31'
It will be interesting to see if Martinez is actually awarded that goal at the end of the match as it did take quite a large deflection off the defender before nestling into the net. Still though, the former Porto man should be catalysed by the fact he currently has opened his Champions League account for Atleti.
29'
J. Martínez has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Saúl.
GOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLL FOR ATLETICO MADRID! THIS ONE DOES COUNT FOR MARTINEZ! Some unsure defending from Astana sees the Colombian collect the ball with his back to goal and shake off the attentions of his marker before turning quickly and sending a deflected strike into the corner! That'll be a massive boost to his confidence! Two-nil!
27'
GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLL FOR ATLETICO! WAIT! NO! OFFSIDE! A fumble from the goalkeeper allows Martinez to pop up at the back post and smuggle a close range strike over the line, but the linesman had his flag up, which quickly stops the Vicente Calderon faithful in their celebrations!
25'
Just beyond the midway point of this first half here and Los Colchoneros find themselves ahead despite not playing anywhere close to their potential. They really are a class apart from Astana, so the visitors may be in for a long night if the formula of this game continues the way it is at the moment!
23'
Saúl has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Y. Carrasco.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL FOR ATLETICO! SIMEONE'S MEN BREAK THE DEADLOCK, AND FROM A SET-PIECE! Gabi, who stands over yet another corner, changes the tactic slightly this time as he plays a short pass to Carrasco which subsequently sees the ball swung to the front post. The oncoming Saul Niguez is on hand to wonderfully flick a strike into the corner! Great goal! One-nil!
22'
Atletico's build-up in open play has been pretty decent but their apparent biggest source of finding the opener could be from a set-piece as they look so dominant from corners and free kicks into the box. Astana are riding their luck a bit as Godin looks like he is going to put a header away soon!
20'
The Atletico fans are demanding a penalty is awarded by the referee as Akhmetov appears to haul Martinez to the floor just a yard or two inside the box. There didn't look to be too much in it but the Colombian was definitely having his arm pulled. Not enough for the official to point to the spot, though!
18'
Griezmann runs the right channel excellently and eventually receives the ball with his back to goal before losing the attentions of his marker. He then slips a lovely pass in behind the Astana defence for Saul, who takes a heavy touch near the byline which makes his resulting strike on goal slam into the side-netting. Disappointing in the end.
16'
Unlucky from Griezmann! Godin is dominant aerially from a corner kick again and this time his connection goes to the back post to meet the Frenchman, who quickly reacts to with a spectacular bicycle kick, only for his strike to float narrowly over. Terrific improvisation!
14'
Gabi's set-piece delivery have been a source of encouragement for Atletico so far as his second consecutive corner kick is once again latched on to by Godin. It is a much better attempted header this time from the Uruguayan as he nods to the bottom corner, but Eric is positioned well to make the save just on the line.
12'
Martinez drops deep into midfield and receives ball to feet before sliding a lovely pass into the left channel for Carrasco, who strives to get on the end of it which would present a clear route to goal. Before he can collect, though, Postnikov intercepts with a perfectly-timed slide tackle. Good defending there!
10'
Carrasco, who has been bright in the early stages down that left flank, links up well once again with his overlapping full-back, Siqueira, with a neat one-two before driving towards the byline. The Astana defence force the former Monaco back, however, as Gabi eventually collects possession in midfield.
8'
Kethevoama, who has been deployed down the left wing tonight, cuts inside from the touchline and actually sees himself in plenty of room around 25 yards out. He tries his luck with a long-range strike but it never looks like causing Oblak much trouble, and flashes over the bar harmlessly.
7'
Gabi swings a deep corner kick to the back post and Godin typically strives to get on the end of it before rising high to head an attempt into the ground and towards goal. Eric in between the sticks for Astana retreats back far enough to make the comfortable save, though.
5'
Astana have certainly come to Spain with a gameplan and that is to soak up as much pressure as possible and hope to catch the hosts out on the break, as they do have pace in their attacking ranks. The five-man backline are sitting very deep in these early stages.
3'
It has been a predictably high tempo start to the match from Atletico here as Simeone has clearly put them out with a fire in their belly to put Astana down as quickly as possible. Carrasco latches on to a quite beautiful lofted pass from Siqueira and subsequently reverses a cross into the box, but he visitors manage to clear.
1'
We are under way in the Spanish capital!
Good evening football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the UEFA Champions League Group C clash between Atletico Madrid and Astana from the Vicente Calderon!
I'm Martin Macdonald, and it is my pleasure to take you through the action.
Los Colchoneros were viewed as massive favourites to claim top spot in the group after the draw was made, but currently find themselves in second position behind Benfica after the Portuguese side impressively won 2-1 away at the Calderon in the last fixture, with Nico Gaitan and Goncalo Guedes cancelling out Angel Correa's opener a couple of weeks ago. It had the potential to be a very damaging few days for Diego Simeone's men, but they managed to bounce back from that disappointing defeat in domestic action as they drew 1-1 with arch rivals, Real Madrid, in the Spanish Primera Division.
That loss at the hands of Benfica was actually Simeone's first home defeat as manager of Atletico in the Champions Leaugue, but a massive opportunity has arisen for them to claim all three points this evening as they take on the minnows of the group, Astana, who are the champions of Kazakhstan. The visitors this evening are the first ever participants in the Champions League who hail from Kazakhstan, and managed to reach the group stage for the first time ever after successfully overcoming APOEL FC with a 2-1 aggregate win in the play-off.
Astana, perhaps predictably, came on the wrong end of a defeat in their first group stage clash as they were comfortably defeated away at Benfica in a 2-0 result, but can certainly take heart from the fact that they managed to claim a point in their last fixture which was a 2-2 draw at home to Champions League regulars, Galatasaray. Up until recently, Stanimir Stoilov's outfit were on a run of five matches without recording a win in all competitions, but their form has improved with two consecutive victories in domestic action in the past couple of weeks.
Astana's only previous meeting against a team from Spain in competitive action was in the 2014/15 Europa League play-offs against Villarreal, and it wasn't a particularly productive affair as the Kazakh side lost 7-0 on aggregate including a 4-0 away defeat. All the glitz and glamour of the Champions League is certainly new for this side, so it should be interesting to see how they react when up against one of the powerhouses of European football.
Atletico have established themselves as one of the major forces of the tournament in recent seasons, having reached the final a couple of years ago. However, recent form has been disappointing as they have lost three of their last six Champions League games, as many defeats as in their previous 22 games in the competition.
Atletico make four changes from their previous match, while Astana make five alterations. For Los Colchoneros, Filipe Luis, Gimenez, Koke, and Correa are replaced with Siqueira, Saul, Savic, and Carrasco. For the visitors, Anicic, Maksimovic, Canas, Shomko, Dzholchiev miss out, with Beysebekov, Akhmetov, Dedechko, Muzhikov, and Schetkin coming into the starting XI.
The teams are lining up on the pitch as the Champions League theme sounds out in the Vicente Calderon!
Half time in the Vicente Calderon. Atletico Madrid enjoy what will likely be their most comfortable opening 45 minutes at this stage of the Champions League as they head into the break 2-0 up against group minnows, Astana. Saul Niguez opened the scoring with a glorious finish at the front post, while Jackson Martinez opened up his Atletico account in the Champions League with a deflected finish into the corner. This scoreline depends on how many goals Simeone's men want to score, really! Second half to come.
Full time at the Vicente Calderon. Atletico Madrid get back on track in the Champions League after their loss to Benfica as they record an extremely comfortable 4-0 win over lowly Astana. Saul Niguez, Jackson Martinez, Oliver Torres and an own goal from Denis Dedechko sealed the win on the night, as Diego Simeone's men outclass their opponents from Kazakhstan. I'm Martin Macdonald, thanks for joining us, see you next time!
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