Atlético returned from the beginning to the line of three centrals, with a very high pressure in the first minutes. Simeone constantly varied back, passing to four, with Hermoso as a side, and controlling the local attempts very well. Real Sociedad took control of the ball before the break and removing Suárez and the rest of Atlético's offensive players from their area. Atlético returned from the dressing room much more incisive, recovering the pressure and going ahead with the goal of Hermoso. And this Atleti is no longer satisfied, he is looking for the second against and found it through Llorente. A brilliant victory in a game of maximum difficulty.
Oblak: Without needing to intervene until minute 82, he left a great hand to repel Merquelanz's free-kick. Your stop of all parties. He left a clean sheet against one of the teams that have scored the most goals in this League and there are five goals against in 13 games.
Trippier: The Englishman did not stop climbing the right wing, showing himself as a way for the team when he charged the attack from the left. They always found him to oxygenate the attack by changing bands. Very ready to break lines from behind, looking for the pass that Llorente likes so much behind the side and combined with Koke or the midfielder who came down to receive. With a line of four behind, he had to be attentive in the internships on the wings and in the coverage of Savic, but he always had the help of Correa first and Saúl later.
Savic: He saw a very season yellow for a foul on William José at the quarter hour of the game, but it did not limit his defensive role. Very serious in a defense that did not suffer despite the lateral centers of Real Sociedad. It has been a year at a huge level.
Felipe: The best version of the central defender, remembering his great level from last season. Simeone returned to bet on the three centrals, returning the Brazilian to eleven and alternating the presence of Hermoso more attached to Felipe or open to the side. And, if he was not going through a good time, Felipe was at a great level to stop the attempts of the Real Sociedad, with several providential cuts. Impregnable from above, very smart in the coverage of Hermoso and Savic and very attentive to recover any ball that passed through the area. Great game.
Beautiful: He is huge and returned to have the award in the form of a goal with a fantastic header to the center of Carrasco. The Madrid native's enormous tactical function, constantly varying his position between a rear that closed with three in defense or with four in attack, passing to the left side. Great display to support the attack by raising the band and doubling Carrasco. He combed a great ball at the far post that Suarez was about to finish off in the second. He had Felipe as the best coverage when he had to see Portu in speed. He is full of confidence, he dares with everything, hats, passes into space, interned in attack …
Carrasco: Extraordinary physical display. An outrage from the Belgian, a lot of band work trying to stretch the team with his constant unchecking, but constantly helping Hermoso back. He put an excellent cross from a set piece at the head of '22' to open the scoring. It made its quality evident with several exquisite controls. At times he sinned from trying his overflow, trying to get away between three defenders and losing the ball. Unchecking behind the local defense creating a lot of danger and preventing the Real from being able to overturn aware of Carrasco's danger.
Koke: Lots of defensive work as an anchor for the team. In this new system, he plays without any pivot at his side, seeking to initiate attacks with the ball and closing the center of the field to give freedom to the flanks and to Lemar and Llorente on the inside. He had problems controlling Silva, who was looking to participate from that midfield area with a lot of quality. The player called to block the attempts of the Real, had greater collaboration with the presence of Saúl and Kondogbia. Less showy party, but with a key role.
Carrasco tries to leave between Merino and Portu.
AMAIA ZABALO (DAILY AS)
Llorente: In defense, collaborating with Koke in the double pivot and in attack freeing himself to try to generate danger with his constant diagonals. Another goal for a player who started the year with a secondary role in the pivot and ended it as an extraordinary player. He has the move measured with Trippier, where the Englishman looks for him by band behind the rival side and who works constantly. He sought to find a distant shot to break the txuri-urdin rear and with a left foot in the front he beat Remiro to close the victory.
Lemar: Simeone continues to reward his good work with minutes. The Frenchman had earned the starting position and started the game looking to participate in the middle, putting pressure on the local defenders very aggressively. He has grown a lot in confidence and his game is basic. Turn, dare and change the game without complexes. A lot was offered in the middle. As the minutes passed, it faded, but he left replaced with another day doing a good job and coming out strengthened.
Belt: Return to the ownership of the Argentine taking advantage of the absence of João Félix. He was not brilliant with the ball, although he made a huge effort for the team. Little came into play, very far to the right. Constant help for Trippier and the intention to combine with Suárez when he received in the final meters. He left replaced at the time of departure to reinforce the environment with Saúl.
Luis Suarez: When Atlético plays at the top they grow, participate more and are a constant danger. He was about to hook two in the area, one after a pass from Carrasco that brushed by the defender and another on a ball combed by Hermoso at the near post. He participated in a capital way in Llorente's goal, receiving his back in the area and looking for Carrasco in a play that fell to '14'. When the team closes it suffers. He is not quick to throw unmarked into space, although he tried to do his job from behind causing several fouls that gave air to the team. The presence of Carrasco on the wing allows the team to have an offensive vein without the need for a striker.
Saúl and Kondogbia reinforced the medium
Saul: He had just over half an hour after his third consecutive substitution in the League. He stood accompanying Koke in the double pivot to add strength and work to the center of the field. With the entry of Kondogbia he moved to the right wing to collaborate with Trippier.
Kondogbia: He replaced Lemar to reinforce the medium. Good job not to lose the intensity in the middle, trying to push so that Real Sociedad did not play comfortably in the final meters. Smart with the ball.
Diego Costa: Last minutes to give an exhausted Suárez a break and have a fresh reference in point.
I gave it: He replaced Carrasco as inside left to completely plug that side with Hermoso.