Oblak: Penalty stopped with an extraordinary hand to avoid the draw in the 85th minute and to leave a clean sheet again. Alavés had several dangerous arrivals looking a lot for Joselu with long balls and the centers from the sides, although without specifying in front of goal. Savic prevented the striker from being left alone before Oblak with a providential cut. Cold after having acted little, he left a stop that is worth two fundamental points.
Trippier: He is very important at Atlético, both in defense and every time he can appear in attack. He gave his sixth assist of the championship with a fantastic cross for Suárez's goal, where he played his leg to make it perfect. He tried to be a ball exit for Oblak and the defenders from the right lane, constantly raising the band and was about to add another goal pass with another great center for Llorente where Pacheco's hand avoided the goal. Very good start in the second half of English, which always generates danger when it participates.
Savic: The Montenegrin was playing an extraordinary game, but the VAR and the referee decreed a penalty in the 85th minute for an elbow that, luckily for the defender, Oblak stopped. He had trained during the week on the sidelines, but arrived at the game in full condition. Fundamental cut to avoid Joselu's frank shot in a play where Alavés had gone against it with great danger. He was able to go ahead to steal in the rival field and come out judiciously from the center of the rear.
Gimenez: A lot of aerial work with Joselu, whom Alavés always looked for behind his back to get the team out. He requested a penalty after winning the jump to Édgar and the ball hit the Alavés player's hand, but the referee after going to the VAR pointed out a questionable fault by the Uruguayan. Strong and secure in the back, he tried to help Hermoso a lot when Pellistri faced him.
Handsome: He started in a position closer to the left side, with a Pellistri doing a lot of damage on his side and always facing the Madrid. In defense he was outlined to the left in the line of three centrals. Very attentive to cut the cons of the visiting team, placing himself in the rival field to steal the closer to the Alavés area. He showed himself far behind to be in charge of getting the ball played and trying to break lines.
Carrasco: The rival defenses are aware of how dangerous it is to let the Belgian out facing the wing and they always mark him in numerical superiority. Despite this, Carrasco never ceases in his attempt to unbalance, even if he has to face two rivals. He tried to be a nuisance on the left wing. Since he overcame the coronavirus, it seems that he has not yet found his peak in physical form and has to pick up his pace to endure the 90 minutes at the same level. Although he completed the match, he was seen to be more exhausted at the end. He received a yellow that will prevent him from playing against Sevilla.
Koke: Omnipresent the captain throughout the game in the exit of the ball and in the recovery in rival field. He returned to exercise as a pivot, where in defense the center of the rojiblanco field is seen on certain occasions in numerical inferiority with the idea of being able to generate more danger in attack. He appeared everywhere, making band coverage on both sides, recovering the ball in the central zone and coming into play a lot. With the entry of Saúl and Herrera he was able to advance his position on the field, but the team did not enjoy possession.
Llorente: He grew a lot at the beginning of the second half and Atlético with him. He participated in Suárez's goal opening the wing for Trippier and was about to take advantage of the Englishman's center to make the second, but between Pacheco and the crossbar they avoided it. In the first half it had been difficult for him to unbalance, coming into play little with spaces where he does more damage. Alavés wanted to avoid at all costs that he could run and have his classic play looking to uncheck the back of the left side. Perhaps you are going through a more tight physical moment, with a huge minute load.
Lemar: One of the players with more clarity to appear between the lines and turn to look for the freest side. It is very important to try to overflow and give something different to the team in the final meters. His pass to Llorente breaking lines in Suárez's goal was capital to change the rhythm of the team's best play in the game. The Frenchman celebrated his return to the national team with a great game and left replaced when he was being one of the most active footballers in Atlético, where the Alavés players could only stop him with fouls. A change that made the team worse.
Strap: He returned to the eleven with the idea of appearing a lot in the midfielder, without João Félix in the game due to suspension. He tried to enter the game thrown to the right wing, but moving a lot to the middle to open holes in the side and try to accompany Suárez up. It was difficult for him to participate in the final meters and his appearances with the ball were few before being substituted.
Luis Suarez: He was reunited with the goal in a beautiful play and an extraordinary header. There are already 19. He did not have an easy start to the game, falling a lot offside and with difficulties to combine in the rival field. About to score in the 40th minute with a right hand from outside the area brushing the post, he again tested Pacheco in the second half with a powerful but low-angle shot.
Changes to strengthen the environment
Herrera: He entered through Lemar to give strength and control to the center of the field. In the year 2021 he has been counting very little, but at the beginning of the course he was fundamental and must give a lot to the team. He recovered and took the ball cleanly until in the last minutes he ended, like the whole team, bottled in his area.
Saul: He replaced Correa to place himself in the double pivot. But, with the changes and the anxiety of winning games, Atlético was losing control of the game and getting backwards until they ended up suffering a lot.