Atlético and Villarreal surrender in an insufficient draw
MADRID, 9 One. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal had to settle for a draw (2-2) this Sunday on matchday 20 of LaLiga Santander held at the La Cerámica Stadium, an intense and vibrant clash that distributed a point for each team, insufficient in his aspirations for the upper part of the table.
Diego Pablo Simeone’s men went ahead with a 50-meter goal from Correa, but Unai Emery’s men showed a lot of football to turn the game around. Atlético took a step forward with the changes and reacted in the second half by being the protagonist, in an even fight that keeps Madrid in fourth position with 33 points. The ‘submarine’ remains eighth with 29.
The quality of Correa and one of the goals of the year gave the rojibblancos a festive atmosphere at times, but the dominance and yellow verticality created a much more hostile atmosphere. Emery’s team commanded the start and was tilting the field towards Oblak’s goal when the tiny visiting Argentine appeared.
In a circulation of the ball, Parejo risked too much, Correa cut the ball, looked at the goal and, seeing Rulli ahead, hit him from almost the center kick point to make it 0-1 with a work of art. Atleti retreated thinking about the counter and Villarreal did not change their script seeking to dominate more and more.
With mobility and changes of positions, the locals did not take long to have their chances, with a ball at the post of Aberto Moreno. Then, a hand from Lemar was the option from the penalty spot for Gerard Moreno, but Oblak stopped the shot. In the rebound, Parejo beat Felipe and sent the ball into the net with his side, but in the VAR they warned of a hand from Madrid.
The game gave no truce and required a microscope almost to see that action that 1-1 had meant at times. The technology became exquisite but Villarreal continued to do their thing to finally tie after half an hour with a successful Pau Torres, attentive to a ball repelled by Oblak. Trigueros had one more and Atleti suffered to maintain the yellow gale.
The second part was more even. Simeone’s men set out to grow from defense, stop bleeding on different fronts, and they did it at times. However, with a kick and two touches, a move that seemed harmless, Alberto Moreno stood in front of the visiting goal to make it 2-1 near 60 ‘.
There the ‘Cholo’ seemed to understand that he had to fight the ‘submarine’ with his weapons and put quality and presence in the center of the field to take control. Lemar went on to play inside and Joao Félix and Koke changed the system of an Atlético that stopped waiting to go on the attack. The reward came quickly with Kondogbia’s 2-2 and Villarreal went on to suffer without the ball.
After failing to turn the whole night at La Cerámica, Atleti began to think about not losing at least the point. Do not give more back as in other meetings but Emery’s were the last minutes. Not with the clarity of the start, those in yellow hovered around Oblak’s goal, more from set pieces and playing a couple of minutes in superiority for the second yellow to Kondogbia.
Simeone’s men come back with a point to continue in the ‘Top 4’ although they are even with Real Sociedad, which did beat Celta, without removing the thorn from the last games away from home. Villarreal, with a pending task in the table, continues to add, although unable to get hold of the current champion, an Atlético that is now heading to the Super Cup that is played in Saudi Arabia.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: VILLARREAL, 2 – ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 2. (1-1, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
VILLARREAL: Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Estupiñán (Nicolas Jackson, min.86); Capoue (Iborra, min.80), Trigueros (Pedraza, min.74), Parejo, Moi Gómez, Alberto Moreno (Yeremi Pino, min.74), Gerard Moreno.
ATHLETIC OF MADRID: Oblak; Llorente, Felipe, Hermoso, Lodi (Vrsaljko, min.63); Carrasco, Kondogbia, De Paul (Joao Félix, min.62), Lemar; Correa y Cunha (Koke, min.63).
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min 10, Correa.
1 – 1, min.29, Pau Torres.
2 – 1, min. 58, Alberto Moreno.
2 – 2, min.67, Kondogbia.
– REFEREE: Alberola Rojas (CC-Manchego). He sent off Kondogbia for a double yellow (min. 71 and 92) at Atlético.
–STADIUM: Ceramics.