Atlético commands silence in La Cerámica

The Atlético de Madrid was reunited with the victory against Villarreal. A goal from Pedraza at own door and another from Joao Felix in the second half they gave the victory to a team, the rojiblanco, which was practical and suffered against a good Villarreal, who had chances to see the door, but this time, Oblak it was decisive not to fit in for a long time afterwards. The leader rearms before the derby.

Three games without winning are a lot for him Athletic, leader of LaLiga, where he had only achieved one win in the last four games. It was time to react. And the field was not the most favorable, La Cerámica, where it had not won since 2015.

The start of the clash made it clear that it was not going to be easy. He left Simeone with the usual 3-5-2, with Vrsaljko for Joao
Felix as the only novelty. Saúl acted as left winger and Correa in attack along with Suarez, who was facing the game with a penalty with the derby just around the corner. Villarreal, with superiority in the center of the field, dominated the match, with Trigueros very loose between the lines and Chukwueze doing damage on the right.

At a quarter of an hour, the Cholo changed the system to go to the classic 4-4-2, with strap on the right, Saul in the middle and Llorente above. Atlético improved somewhat, who had the first occasion with a shot from Elche from outside the area that he rejected Asenjo, well placed. And right after, the goal came. Corner taken short to Lemar, who had time to put a great ball at the far post, where he appeared Savic to top it off. Unemployment Asenjo but the ball hit Pedraza and entered the goal. There was tension, a lot, because the assistant pointed out of the game of the Montenegrin, who was in the correct position. But despite the clarity of the action, from the VAR they reviewed the action for three interminable minutes, looking for who knows what.

The goal did not appease Villarreal, with an Atlético that was too soft on defense. As in the best occasion of the people of Castellón in the first act. A ball measured from Equal what Gerard he tried to control almost in the small area instead of finishing first. It left him, but he launched himself on the plate. The ball was taken out on the line by Koke.

Not much more happened in the first half that went beyond minute 50, because in the VAR, an ‘asset’ Munuera
Huntsman claimed the presence of Of
Burgos
Bengoetxea for a possible aggression of Lemar on Capoue. The Frenchman met his compatriot and tried to remove the arm, but ended up impacting him. In the end, after the referee's monitor review, yellow.

Lemar He precisely stayed in the locker room (now in the stands) at half-time as a precaution, having discomfort from a blow received. I enter Joao
Felix, which was placed on the left. He pressed the mattress box up, and with that he forced an error of Pau
towers what did you pick up Luis
Suarez to shoot at the door, but he showed off Asenjo to send her to a corner. The Palencia player intervened shortly after a launch of strap from the front. Now Atlético commanded, and Emery, that he could not count on Alcacer for last minute annoyances, moved chips, Stupiñán Y Bacca they entered by Pedraza Y Moi
Gomez. The Colombian had the first as soon as he entered, but he met with Oblak. Later Gerard, which looked a bit more retarded. The ball did not last long for the mattresses, who suffered in this section of the crash.

But when he was having the worst, he appeared Joao Felix, who had entered the game well. Picked up a bad clears from Pau TorresHe controlled with his chest and holed with his right, without letting it fall, to put it close to the pole. The Portuguese celebrated it with anger, commanding silence. I needed it. And Atlético. For the 0-2, and to reactivate his man with more quality.

Booked Simeone to Suarez and put Kondogbia. Llorente he was the most advanced man. Villarreal, who was looking for the goal, did not falter with Chukwueze making suffer Saul and with Baena shooting at the stick. I enter Torreira by Correa, with Llorente passing right again. Ten minutes to go. Of suffering. Because Baena tried again with a great volley, but Oblak put in a prodigious hand to keep the zero after eight games in a row conceding.

Villarreal, who did not accuse the European effort on Thursday, put Atlético in their area, unable to leave. Unable to chain two passes in a row and keep the ball. Another stop of Oblak, now to Equal. And it is over. The leader won again. Effective and practical, gain confidence. And now, the derby.

(+) See the summary and the goals of the match: