Atlético starts with doubts at La Cerámica
Llorente and Sorloth neutralised Villarreal’s goals in a duel in which Simeone’s men showed problems in defence
MADRID, 19 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid rescued a point against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica (2-2) on Monday, a duel in which Diego Pablo Simeone’s men managed to neutralise the Castellón team’s goals on two occasions, with goals from Marcos Llorente and Alexander Sorloth, who was making his debut at home.
The doubts in defence weighed on the red and white team, which still managed to respond to the two blows from Marcelino García Toral’s men, all on a night in which the new Atlético signings made their debut: the Norwegian Alexander Sorloth and the Argentine Julián Álvarez, the first one starting against his former team and the second one as a substitute.
Danjuma put the Yellow Submarine ahead in the 18th minute, but just two minutes later Llorente equalised. After an own goal by Koke and before the end of the first half, Sorloth appeared to salvage a point before apologising to his former fans.
In a frenetic first half at La Cerámica, Samu Lino, with a cross that forced Diego Conde to act, and Reinildo, with a goal disallowed for offside, warned Marcelino García Toral’s team, who did not fail in their first dangerous action.
In the 17th minute, a long clearance from the Castellón goalkeeper fell to the boots of Arnaut Danjuma, who ran in one-on-one with Axel Witsel; with a couple of dribbles, the Dutch striker got past the Belgian centre-back and fired home to open the scoring.
The red-and-white response, however, was not long in coming; after a great combination between Pablo Barrios and Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente took the ball and took advantage of the space behind the defence to make it 1-1 (min.20).
It was the start of a crazy period, with Samu Lino hitting the post and Danjuma trying to surprise Witsel again, who this time thwarted the chance with his shoulder. In the midst of all the chaos, a mistake in the corner from Jan Oblak left the ball loose and Koke ended up putting it into his own goal (min.37).
There was still time for more before the break in Alexander Sorloth’s return to his former home. In extra time, a move by Barrios on the right flank culminated in a cross for the Norwegian striker, who headed in to make it 2-2 (min.45+5).
Despite everything, neither the Norwegian nor Witsel returned to the pitch, replaced by Ángel Correa and José María Giménez, after the break, but Simeone did not get the expected reaction. The red-and-white team claimed a penalty for a Bailly tackle on Correa, but the referee saw nothing.
There was still time for the debuts of Julián Álvarez, for the colchoneros, and Ayoze Pérez, for the Castellón team, but the score did not change, although Nicolas Pépé was close to leaving the three points at home with a free kick in the 83rd minute that repelled the crossbar.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–RESULT: VILLARREAL, 2 – ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 2 (2-2, at half-time).
–LINEUPS:
VILLARREAL: Conde; Femenía, Albiol, Bailly, Cardona; Comesaña, Parejo (Terrats, min.92); Yeremy (Ilias Akhomach, min.71), Baena (Gueye, min.71); Gerard (Pépé, min.71) and Danjuma (Ayoze, min.79).
ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak; Llorente, Witsel (Gimenez, min.46), Azpilicueta, Reinildo (Molina, min.54); Koke (De Paul, min.64), Barrios; Griezmann (Julian Alvarez, min.78), Samuel Lino; and Sorloth (Correa, min.46).
–GOALS:
1-0, min.18: Danjuma.
1-1, min.20: Llorente.
2-1, min.37: Koke, own goal.
2-2, min.45+5: Sorloth.
–REFEREE: Cuadra Fernández (C.Balear). He cautioned Yeremy Pino (min.10) for Villarreal and Le Normand (min.40), Barrios (min.43) and Samu Lino (min.81) for Atlético de Madrid.
–STADIUM: La Cerámica. 21,566 spectators.