Astana holds Atletico in dull stalemate

ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Kazakh champion Astana claimed just its second ever Champions League point in an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid Tuesday. The host had been thrashed 4-0 in the Spanish capital two weeks ago, but held out bravely for a surprise point despite rarely threatening to seal its first ever Champions League win. The draw sees Atletico move top of Group C on seven points from four games, but Benfica is only a point back and the Portuguese champion can move to the top of the group should it avoid defeat against Galatasaray later in the day. Atletico was faced with freezing conditions on a plastic pitch after making the near 6,000-kilometer trip from Madrid and it was the host who had the first effort on goal when Jan Oblak saved from Dmitri Shomko. The 2013-14 finalist took control of the game as the half developed and only some brave defending denied Tiago and Guilherme Siqueira as they had goalbound efforts blocked. Fernando Torres's long wait for his 100th Atletico goal continued as he wasted the best chance of the game when Evgeny Postnikov's dallying allowed the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker to turn Juanfran's cross toward goal but wide of the far post. Koke also saw a free-kick clip the top of the crossbar as Atletico ended the half on top. However, the visitors failed to carry on that momentum in the second period and it was only when Yannick Ferreira Carrasco was introduced from the bench in the final 20 minutes that they started to create chances to snatch all three points. Antoine Griezmann was kept quiet throughout, but Atletico's top scorer found a yard of space to flash a shot across goal before a Carrasco cross came back off the crossbar with Astana keeper Nenad Eric flapping. Jose Maria Gimenez's header forced the keeper into a comfortable save moments later, but Eric produced his best stop of the game deep into stoppage time when he got down to save Carrasco's effort with the last kick of the match. — AFP