UCL: Atletico Into Last 16, Salzburg Out, Carrasco On Target

Yannick Carrasco was on target with a goal and an assist for Atletico Madrid as they advanced to the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory away to Salzburg.

AllNews understands that the win was the second for Atleti in six UEFA Champions League Group A matches yet they were able to clinch second place behind defending champions Bayern Munich.

The win ended Salzburg's hopes of reaching the knockout phase for the first time.

READ ALSO: UCL: Atletico Struggles Against Lokomotiv As Qualification Tightens

Mario Hermoso's goal just before halftime puts Diego Simeone's side ahead in Austria before Carrasco added a late second for the Spanish league leaders.

Atletico nearly fell behind inside two minutes against the Austrian champions as Mergim Berisha came just a whisker away from giving Salzburg the lead, the German U-21's low curler struck the post.

While Atleti's defence has been watertight in La Liga, conceding just twice in 10 games, Atletico has proved far more vulnerable on the European stage, and Salzburg repeatedly threatened in the opening stages.

Sekou Koita fluffed an attempt running away from goal after he was played in by Patson Daka, who then failed to make more of a promising opportunity on the counter-attack.

That came shortly after Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak plunged low to his left to turn behind Dominik Szoboszlai's guided effort heading for the bottom corner.

Having weathered early pressure Atletico landed the crucial breakthrough six minutes before the interval when Carrasco's free-kick was glanced home by Hermoso, the ball coming off both head and shoulder.

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?⚪ #AúpaAtleti | ⭐ #UCL pic.twitter.com/caeapO6fca

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) December 9, 2020

Rasmus Kristensen flashed a snapshot wide as Salzburg resumed the second half on the attack, and they should have been level when Szoboszlai linked up with Berisha only to gasp in horror as he dragged agonizingly wide with just Oblak to beat.

Enock Mwepu, one of two Zambians in the Salzburg side, clipped the outside of the post with a thumping 20-yard drive, but Carrasco's cushioned volley from an Angel Correa cross four minutes from time sealed victory for Atletico.