Atlético hardly allowed Rayo Vallecano to have clear chances in the match played in Vallecas and when he had them, Oblak appeared. The goalkeeper was once again decisive, as happened last Tuesday in the Champions League match against Manchester United. A week in which the Atlético goalkeeper remembered the usual one, the one from these years at Atlético. Oblak has reappeared and the Madrid team locks it up again. And that means points for Atlético.
The Madrid team does not concede goals and this is thanks to good collective work and the actions of Oblak. Simeone seems to have hit the key by placing a defense of five, with three center backs and two lanes. Savic, Giménez and Reinildo consolidate as the three starting defenders. Felipe and Hermoso are left now to replace one of their companions. as lanes, Marcos Llorente and Lodi, who is curdling a good level. When Carrasco returns, it will be difficult for him to play.
Atlético, after losing to Levante, has achieved five wins in a row in LaLiga. He beat Osasuna, Celta, Betis, Cádiz and Rayo Vallecano. And tied at home against Manchester United in the Champions League. They got through the tie by winning 0-1 at Old Trafford. In these seven games after the debacle against Levante, the team has conceded three goals. One against Manchester, another against Betis and the third against Cádiz. Osasuna, Celta, Manchester, on English soil, and Rayo Vallecano remained unmarked. Excellent news for the remainder of the season.
Before the match against Levante played on February 16, Atlético kept the goal at nil against Elche, Porto, Athletic, Barcelona, Betis, Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano and Rayo Majadahonda, in the Copa del Rey. Atlético, thanks to its defensive firmness, consolidates itself in the Champions positions and continues ahead in Europe. Looking ahead to the tie against Manchester City, it will be essential that Simeone’s team maintain their rigor at the back.
Koke commented after the match that Atlético has increased the intensity and concentration in defense, something that he lost over many games. Against Rayo Vallecano, João Félix and Griezmann were the first to close the path to the rival team’s goal. Atlético with zero in Oblak’s goal has returned.