MADRID (AP) - Substitute Michy Batshuayi scored with the last kick of the game to give Chelsea a well-deserved 2-1 comeback win against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish club’s Champions League debut at its new stadium Wednesday.
Batshuayi scored from close range in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time after a cross from the right by Marcos Alonso, stunning the Atletico crowd at the new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Alvaro Morata had added to his impressive start with Chelsea by scoring a second-half equalizer after Atletico had taken the lead before halftime with a penalty converted by Antoine Griezmann.
The result left Chelsea with six points in Group C, two more than Roma, which earlier Wednesday defeated Qarabag 2-1 in Azerbaijan. Atletico stayed with one point.
Chelsea was coming off a 6-0 rout of Qarabag at home, while Atletico drew 0-0 with Roma in Italy.
“I’m very pleased for my players because to play this way, with such personality, isn’t easy,” Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said. “When you go 1-0 down to Atletico it isn’t easy to come back. We showed great concentration and personality in the second half. We deserved to win.”
Atletico tried to control possession at the Metropolitano, but it was Chelsea that had the best scoring chances throughout the match.
“Chelsea deserved to win because it played better,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “They played with more intensity, they played a very complete match. We were never comfortable during the game. The draw would have been a good result for us but in the end they were patient with the ball and scored in the very last second.”
Chelsea’s winner came after Tiemoue Bakayoko made a great flick pass to Alonso inside the area, and the defender sent the ball back toward the unmarked Batshuayi for his easy shot into the net. The Belgium forward had been sent on in the 82nd minute.
The referee blew the final whistle as Chelsea players were still celebrating.
“Michy scores every time he’s on the field,” said Eden Hazard, who played superbly for Chelsea in midfield. “He can score every time. I’m so happy for him.”
Griezmann had opened the scoring in the 40th minute by hitting the middle of the net from the penalty spot after Chelsea defender David Luiz pulled Atletico defender Lucas Hernandez by the jersey inside the area.
Morata, the Spain international who played for Real Madrid last season, scored his seventh goal of the season with Chelsea with a header into the far corner after a cross by Hazard in the 60th.
Morata, who was loudly jeered by the Atletico fans, had debuted with Chelsea with six goals in the first six Premier League games.
“It was very special to score,” Morata said. “Today was a very important test for us.”
The result ended Atletico’s 11-game unbeaten streak at home in the Champions League.
Striker Diego Costa, who just transferred from Chelsea to Atletico, was in the tribunes at the Metropolitano. He will be eligible to play for Atletico in January.
Atletico travels to Azerbaijan to play against Qarabag in the next round on Oct. 18, while Chelsea hosts Roma.
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