Griezmann's late goal not enough as Atlético Madrid crash out of Club World Cup

Atlético Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Botafogo on Monday night, thanks to a dramatic late strike by Antoine Griezmann. But the win wasn’t enough to rescue their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign. Despite finishing with six points—equal to Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo—the Spanish giants were eliminated on goal difference, a cruel end rooted in their opening 4-0 defeat to PSG.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Diego Simeone’s side, who entered the match knowing they needed not just a win, but a substantial goal margin to overtake their rivals in Group B. In the end, Griezmann’s 87th-minute goal gave Atlético three points but not the lifeline they needed.

Match Recap: Griezmann scores, but it's too little, too late

After a tense and often physical match at the Rose Bowl, Julián Álvarez finally found the breakthrough. The Argentine danced past two defenders and delivered a pinpoint cross to Griezmann, who smashed it home for his first goal of the tournament.

But Atlético needed more. Knowing a one-goal win wouldn't be enough to undo the damage of their previous loss to PSG, they threw bodies forward. Botafogo, resilient and well-drilled, absorbed the pressure and held firm to protect their qualification.

Goalkeeper John was instrumental, registering four key saves as Botafogo clung to a result that ensured their progression to the Club World Cup round of 16.

Despite beating both Botafogo and Seattle Sounders, Atlético’s heavy 4-0 loss to PSG ultimately cost them their place in the knockout stages. Paris Saint-Germain claimed the top spot on goal difference, while Botafogo advanced as runners-up.

Key Moment: Penalty shouts denied for Julián Álvarez

The first half was not without controversy. Julián Álvarez was involved in two notable penalty box clashes. In the 25th minute, he appeared to be tripped by Jair Paula, and again before halftime when Gregore stepped on his foot just outside the box.

Referee Roberto Ramírez waved away both appeals, leaving Atlético players and coaching staff visibly frustrated. The missed opportunities added fuel to the post-match reactions that questioned the officiating throughout the tournament.

Simeone, Griezmann react to Club World Cup exit

Atlético Madrid’s head coach Diego Simeone voiced his discontent post-match:

“Every refereeing decision in this tournament went against us... We had the same number of points as the Champions League winner and Libertadores winner, but we missed out because of the match against PSG.”

Griezmann, while proud of the team’s fight, shifted focus inward:

“We can’t focus on the referee. Sometimes we’re not at our best, and we must address that.”

Related News: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Botafogo survive late Seattle pressure to win 2-1 in Club World Cup debut

Botafogo defy the odds in “Group of Death”

For Brazilian champions Botafogo, the night ended in celebration. After stunning PSG with a 1-0 win four days earlier, they came into this final group fixture needing to avoid defeat by multiple goals to qualify.

Despite being outshot 23 to 7, the Brazilian side displayed tactical discipline, effective counterattacking, and unwavering resilience. They nearly took the lead early through Jefferson Savarino, who was denied by a brilliant Jan Oblak save, and later came close again via Igor Jesus, whose deflected strike was fingertipped wide.

Botafogo head coach Renato Paiva acknowledged the scale of the achievement:

“If I had said back in Brazil that we would get through this group, I would have been criticized by everyone. But we did what no one expected. We have to thank the Botafogo fans and be proud of Brazilian football.”

Takeaways: Fine Margins at the World Stage

• Atlético Madrid fall victim to the tournament’s harsh mathematics, proving that one poor result can overshadow two strong ones.
• Botafogo, initially seen as underdogs, advance with confidence and momentum.
• Group B lived up to its billing as the most competitive in the tournament, with three elite clubs finishing level on points.

What’s Next

• Botafogo move on to face a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent in the Round of 16. Their grit and giant-killing ability now put the rest of the field on notice.
• Atlético Madrid, eliminated, will now regroup and prepare for the 2025–26 La Liga and European seasons after an early summer exit.

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