Atlético recovers its smile at home
The Colchonero team makes the most of a Morata header to beat Granada (0-1) with effort and return to fourth place
MADRID, 22 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid won again away from Cívitas Metropolitano three months later in LaLiga EA Sports 2023-2024 after winning this Monday by a tight and worked 0-1 against the needy Granada, thanks to a goal from Álvaro Morata at the beginning of the second half and which allowed him to recover fourth place in the table.
The Colchonero team had lost in its last four league outings and broke this negative dynamic away from home to arrive calmer for Thursday's important Copa del Rey quarterfinal match against Sevilla. He did not have a great game like in the last derby, but he found the goal when he looked for it the most and when Diego Pablo Simeone had made changes to improve a team, until then not very comfortable against an opponent that is still second to last and that did not take advantage of the mistakes of their direct rivals for salvation.
The 'Cholo' opted to refresh his eleven after the effort of the derby, especially in the midfield, where he gave a rest to Koke and De Paul to bring in Barrios and overtake Llorente, in addition to bringing in Riquelme for Lino in the left lane and Savic in defense for Giménez. The changes did not have the desired effect on a team that failed to get the pulse of the match given the intensity that Granada proposed.
The Nasrid team tried to get the rhythm of the clash supported by the work of Boyé and the speed of Bryan Zaragoza, but they lacked much more lucidity in the decisive meters to have done more damage to an Atlético that did not find Griezmann nor a good connection between their new midfield so Batalla was 'calm'.
A shot from Boyé that was too deflected and a good cross from Witsel against Uzuni were the best threats for the locals, while Atlético did not threaten much either, apart from a shot from Riquelme, already at half an hour, and a header from Morata. Another shot from outside the Gumbau area closed an intense first half, but with little brilliance.
ATLÉTICO ACCELERATES
It didn't take long for 'Cholo' to seek improvement for his team and he started De Paul and Lino, in addition to instructing them to go one more gear. The mattress response was instantaneous and the match resumed with only one direction, that of Batalla's goal, firm to repel Lino's powerful shot, somewhat focused.
Atlético finally dominated a Granada that was suffering and could not leave its field, except for an excessively crossed shot by Boyé. The Colchoneros' momentum was soon rewarded thanks to an accurate header from Morata after a precise cross from a more prominent Griezmann. The Madrid striker's thirteenth league goal was suspended after a long VAR review, which minutes later did not validate another great header from Saúl and which had previously been annulled by Martínez Munuera.
However, Atlético was losing effervescence, perhaps paying something for last Thursday's effort and that gave some air to 'Cacique' Medina's men, who continued to lack offensive lucidity, but who at least gave in with their desire and encouragement. from the Nuevo Los Cármenes stands to seek the tie.
Simeone tried to calm the Nasrid spirits with the entry of Koke, but Granada pressed and were able to find the goal, with Witsel taking Bruno Méndez's shot from under the goalposts and Villar's subsequent shot going close to the post. The visitors did not find a lethal counterattack, but they resisted the final attempt with more heart than head from the Granada team.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: GRANADA, 0 – ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (0-0, at half-time).
–ALIGNMENTS.
GRENADA: Battle; Ricard (Puertas, min.85), Méndez, Miquel, Neva; Ruiz, Gumbau (Melendo, min.80), Villar; Uzuni (Arezzo, min.67), Boyé and Zaragoza (Callejón, min.80).
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Witsel, Hermoso, Riquelme (Lino, min.46); Llorente (De Paul, min.46), Barrios (Giménez, min.80), Saúl (Koke, min.76); Griezmann and Morata (Correa, min.76).
–GOALS.
0-1, minute 54. Morata.
–REFEREE: Martínez Munuera (C.Valenciano). He cautioned Boyé (min.75), Batalla (min.95) and coach Alexander Medina (min.96), for Granada, and Saúl (min.72) and Savic (min.75), for Atlético.
–STADIUM: Nuevo Los Cármenes.