Simeone repeated the eleven he had used in the Champions League against Milan, where the rojiblanco team suffered a defeat that complicates their chances of being in the second round. Nevertheless, Atlético was more active, combining well between the lines and in the second half unleashed their festival in front of goal. There was a greater intention to press up and steal the ball in rival field. Cholo recovered a 4-4-2 and Lemar and Carrasco were decisive in the bands.
Cloud: Cádiz sought to do damage with many balls hanging in the area. He had practically not received any shot on goal and in a poisoned center when the game was already reaching its end he played in Carrasco and it became a very strange goal, where the Slovenian lost the reference of the ball and sneaked into his door preventing the Slovenian left with a clean sheet.
Llorente: Again he had to go out as a right-back, although this time it was a much more pleasant match than Milan’s, since he was able to join the attack very assiduously and with Lemar in that area he constantly received shipments to his unmarked speed. This is how Griezmann’s goal was created, putting a tense center at the penalty spot and adding a karat goal assist. He did not give up his efforts and continued to seek to harm Espino in a position that takes away a lot of prominence, but where he fulfilled at a high level.
Savic: He began by forming a central pair with Giménez, but the Uruguayan’s physical problems led him to go to play with Felipe at his side from minute 33. Very fast to cross in an action where Salvi was already preparing the shot on goal that he could block with his foot after a team loss at the start. Incisive in the rival area, he sought the goal by finishing off several corners and forcing Ledesma to a good performance to avoid his goal. Great game for the Montenegrin, very safe behind and smart with the ball.
Gimenez: He took an elbow from Sobrino in the face in a good defensive action that forced him to be substituted just after half an hour of the game. That blow to the temple kept him groggy and the Uruguayan preferred to request the change to admit Felipe. In the first minutes he had been serious behind with Savic, a pair of center-backs who know each other perfectly. Giménez’s speed allows him to feel comfortable with meters behind him.
Handsome: Left back in the defense of four, with the very clear idea of raising the band when Carrasco wins the baseline to be a support near the Cádiz area despite being an area of the field where he is not so used to participating. He was not overwhelming against Lozano in the Cádiz goal, where a later parable ended up becoming a very strange goal.
Boil: Atlético need the best version of the captain, a fundamental player to give speed and rhythm to the team’s game and today he was very comfortable. In Cádiz he started more active with the ball and the team managed to generate long combinations and good play between the lines until reaching the final meters, where everything got stuck in the first half and the light was seen in the second. He went up lines in the pressure, looking for the team to recover in the rival field. Comfortable exit from the team, on occasion he risked a couple of dangerous losses, but left a good face with De Paul in the double pivot.
From Paul: The Argentine was active, always asking for the ball and trying to be very present at the ball exit, both on the inside with long balls into space. In the double pivot with Koke, he left a great physical display and complemented well with the captain. He provides a lot of intensity to the team and when Simeone sends a higher pressure he is always a very intelligent and skilled soldier to steal and cause opponent’s fouls.
Lemar, during the match against Cádiz.
ALVARO RIVERO (DIARY AS)
Lemar: The Frenchman regained his decisive version of this season and his determination going to door… with a header! He started as a right inside, but with a lot of freedom of movement to try to participate with a lot of assiduity with the ball. In that position he was able to enhance the constant climbs of Llorente, since he sought the unchecks of the lateral today with large shipments into space and thus the second mattress goal was forged. A constant exit from below stops in the center of the athletic field, very intoned with Carrasco to put imbalance and play between the lines. The Belgian put it on measure and Lemar headed in the air to open the scoring. From another combination with Carrasco he was hand in hand with Ledesma, but he controlled long with the right and his attempt to dive was unsuccessful. Replaced at 72 minutes with a great game, recovering his best face after the injury.
Carrasco: Left inside ahead of Hermoso, in a position that feels very comfortable. The team returned to 4-4-2 and the Belgian wanted to be the protagonist, receiving on the left wing, facing and trying to be vertical and do damage despite how close the Cadista defense was. Details of its enormous quality, with dribbling, pipes, controls, passes … and a gold center for Lemar to open the header. He would see the Frenchman again to leave him hand in hand in an action that Ledesma was the winner. In one of his multiple aids back to Hermoso, he ended up touching a Lozano center that became the local goal. Great game for the Belgian, a solution and a constant imbalance.
Griezmann: Simeone recovered a pair of forwards, with the Frenchman up next to Suárez, but constantly falling to the midfielder to try to receive and try to create danger from the second row. He needs to be able to get more into play in the final meters, because when he does, he has a lot of quality. He took advantage of a tense center from Llorente to put the second goal of the rojiblanco with a good right hand and put a great ball into space for Cunha’s goal. He was also part of the great play of Correa’s goal. Work always contributes and if Simeone manages to make him more of a protagonist, it will be a blessing for the team.
Suarez: Not very participative in the first half, he had the clearest chance of the team before the break in a pumped ball after a dispute by Griezmann that fell into the area, due to his left-foot strike he went over the crossbar in a play where he asked for more subtlety than the power. In the second he tried to turn his back and give a ball to his teammates, but it was an uncomfortable match for ‘9’.
Correa and Cunha go out to eat the grass
Felipe: He had to rush in due to Giménez’s problems and surrendered at a high level, forming a pair behind with Savic and outlined on the left. Intelligent in the anticipation, good in the aerial game and without risking at the start, but without raffling the ball, he took the test with a good note.
Correa: He continues with his mentality of taking advantage of every opportunity Simeone gives him. Lemar came in from the right wing and from the first moment he showed voracity to enter the game, give a bite and have the prize in the form of a goal after a great collective combination. He asked for it and unbalanced between the lines.
Cunha: Like Correa, when he enters it is always with a positive attitude and with the desire to eat the grass. It gives the team up speed and a reference that makes the center backs uncomfortable and prevents them from overturning in attack. Great assistance for Correa in the team’s third goal, playing very well first with Griezmann and a prize in the fourth, perfectly defining a great delivery from the Frenchman with a powerful hit that was impossible for Ledesma.