Atlético wins its ‘Champions’ final against Athletic
Simeone’s men remain in the direct duel for fourth place in the Metropolitano
MADRID, 27 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid won (3-1) against Athletic Club this Saturday on matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports held at the Cívitas Metropolitano, a key duel for fourth place that Diego Pablo Simeone’s team defended and strengthened, to play the next season the Champions League.
Those of ‘Cholo’ had the important fourth episode between them this season, surpassed by the Basques in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. Ernesto Valverde’s men, who finished the ko tournament with a trophy 40 years later, have not won since their conquest in La Cartuja and fourth place was six points away from them.
At 15 minutes, Rodrigo de Paul scored the first Atlético goal against the ‘lions’ this season, with a very prominent Marcos Llorente also playing a leading role. It was a bad clearance by the visiting defense and the local midfielder was also lucky in the rebound of his shot at Galarreta, but Simeone’s men took control. Furthermore, the people of Madrid defended themselves well against the Basque daggers.
The Williams did not appear, and it was Oihan Sancet who had the chance for Athletic, but the locals sinned just before the break. A back pass from Griezmann was taken advantage of by Valverde’s team as a gift to make it 1-1 with Nico Williams when the game was already heading into the locker room tunnel. The Spanish international celebrated by pointing to his skin, shortly after the match was stopped due to reports of racist insults from the stands.
However, after the restart Atlético struck first again. Ángel Correa recovered a ball in the center of the field and then unmarked himself to receive a great pass from Koke, who controlled and defined even better to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute. A great goal that soon forced Valverde to move bench looking for solutions.
However, Muniain and Ander Herrera were far from lighting the fuse of a Cup champion who seems to have lost his fang. At Atlético, with the ‘obligation’ of continuing to be a fixture in ‘Champions’, the need and the general push to sentence with a shot from Samuel Lino that Unai Simón scored was more noticeable.
The elimination against Borussia Dortmund and the bad season away from home brought back the exchange of shouts and opinions at the Metropolitano. Some chanted ‘Cholo’, some whistled, but Atlético got closer to its first goal of achieving among the best in Europe. Those from Bilbao have at least fifth place well tied.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 3 – ATHLETIC CLUB, 1. (1-1, at half-time).
–ALIGNMENTS.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Molina (Riquelme, min.67), Giménez, Witsel, Hermoso, Lino; Llorente (Saúl, min.82), Koke, De Paul (Azpilicueta, min.83); Correa (Barrios, min.77) and Griezmann.
ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón, Yeray (Ander Herrera, min.66), Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; Galarreta (Vesga, min.69), Prados; Iñaki Williams (Raúl García, min.81), Sancet (Berenguer, min.66), Nico Williams and Cruzeta (Muniain, min.66).
–GOALS:
1 – 0, min.15, Del Paul.
1 – 1, min.45, Nico Williams.
2 – 1, min.52, Correa.
3 – 1, min.80, Unai Simón (own goal).
–REFEREE: Martínez Munuera (C.Valenciano). He cautioned De Paul (min.5), Hermoso (min.93) and Griezmann (min.94) for Atlético. And Sancet (min.60) and Paredes (min.71) in Athletic.
–STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.