Cloud: What Oblak would have given to have Giménez, Savic and Reinildo ahead of him all season. The defense feels more comfortable, secure, confident to leave meters behind and without those rude mistakes. Elche’s main danger in the first half came from set pieces, which caused the Slovenian to get very angry with Lodi for a defensive neglect. Second game in a row with their best defense, second game in a row without conceding.
Vrsaljko: As soon as the game started, he had to be substituted due to some physical problems in his 100th game for Atletico. Six minutes he had to celebrate. Simeone did not opt for a natural change such as Wass and modified his system with Lodi. It could have been his last game at the club, since his contract ends in June.
Savic: Very sure. An ideal bodyguard, always present and without the need for boasting to be well positioned and cut off the balls that passed through his area. When he can be with Giménez, they are by far the best pair of central defenders in the squad and one of the best in LaLiga. And Reinildo has perfectly inserted himself into the line of three.
Gimenez: Having him healthy is always a great joy for the team. Everything flows better, with confidence in the withdrawal, calm, security, strength from above and forceful at the crossing. In this current hand hysteria, he dove to the ground to prevent the ball from passing close to his arm and injured his right wrist, which he had to be attended to.
Reinildo: His winter signing has been a blessing for the team. A rock, nor the physical problems that forced him to be substituted on Sunday in the derby separated him from eleven. Sticky on the mark, he is very difficult to beat in the melee and gets excited with discretion when the ball comes out. He started at left back, but Vrsaljko’s injury led him to a line of three central defenders along with Savic and Giménez, a defense that gives Oblak a lot of security. Level of the Mozambican. King.
From Paul: He started as a right inside, remembering his old days and entering inside to leave the lane to Vrsaljko. The Croatian’s quick injury returned Atlético to a midfield of three, with Carrasco on that wing and the Argentine playing more focused ahead of Kondogbia. He combines good actions with bad decisions. Scorer in a play where he found Griezmann and took advantage of the Frenchman’s wall to score his second goal for Atletico. The bad, the lack of continuity in his football. An important steal interspersed with a pass to the wrong player, a dribble with a split delivery between teammate and opponent… The goal will give him confidence.
Kondogbia: He ends the season as the team’s most reliable midfielder. He is very active in recovery, covering a lot of the field, freeing Koke and De Paul from the front and always offering himself as a ball outlet for the central defenders. Fearless to finish play from close to the rival area with his powerful left leg.
Koke: Atlético has achieved more speed in the game in the last two games. Better combinations inside and a chance to break lines with first-touch passes that do a lot of good in midfield. The team went behind with an advantage on the scoreboard, but when he was able to play, the captain was important to handle that ball. Without shining, it has been growing in the last two games.
Carrasco: If his start to the game was on the far left, where he did so many years in the derby against Real Madrid, Vrsaljko’s injury as soon as the game began led him to play as a right winger. Always committed to the team, he is there for whatever Cholo needs. It was not the most pleasant match, since he had to defend for the band that Mojica was attacking, but he always delivers. Precise in the controls and without neglecting his back.
Griezmann: Team attack launcher. If the goal does not come, he already took care of generating them for his teammates. He had left good feelings in the derby, although he continues to get stuck scoring. Participative, active, and protagonist in Cunha’s goal with a great game changer for Lodi, who ended up assisting his compatriot. Falling to the right wing to generate numerical superiority and danger behind Mojica’s back. The Frenchman could try to end his drought in a heads-up match, but he was very generous and he gave De Paul the wall. Playmaker.
Cunha: He is indisputably earning the position as the team’s starting point guard. A lot of mobility, speed, attitude, electric and sharp in the pressure. And, in addition, successful in the final meters. He opened the scoring in a pure battering ram movement, gaining space for the center back and moving forward to certify Lodi’s great center. He tried to repeat his shot in the second half, but Bigas took it out. A lot of criteria in his actions, with the ability to go down and combine or throw unchecks as a reference.
Lodi, assistant from the bank
Lodi: Vrsaljko’s injury after six minutes forced him to come on. He modified the tactical system to a five-man defense, playing left lane and moving Carrasco to the right. Very free to go up with Reinildo from behind, he generated Cunha’s goal with his great unchecking, better control of Griezmann’s pass and perfect cross to the penalty spot. He would repeat the action finding Cunha again as soon as the second half began in which the ’19’ was about to close his double. He had an important discussion with Oblak after a bad defensive action in a corner. He will not be against Sevilla due to suspension.
Herrera: He faces his last games in the club. And he always sets criteria with the ball, he plays at his rhythm, but he takes over the team’s times.
Correa: The forward Cunha-Griezmann seems to be settling down and both come out stronger. But Correa had his 20 minutes and was about to get his goal, which Badía took away with a real save.
Felipe: He entered the last ten minutes as a right back, a position in which he had not been seen. Strange to place him there and bad news for Wass if Felipe is an option ahead of him in that position. However, he defended himself well and came out well when they confronted him.
Suarez: He replaced a Cunha who had been emptied upstairs. Good mobility, attitude on his way out and goal disallowed due to a millimetric offside. He also left a great assist for Correa, where Badía appeared. He acted as captain with Oblak at the break. If he leaves, he is with exemplary behavior.