Atlético suffered, suffered, had a bad time, very bad, in a game in which they were better for seventy minutes. But the game got complicated in the final stretch and he could pay for it dearly. Atlético seems to want to maximize the theory of suffering, that suffering that accompanies the rojiblanco team so much. He won, he took the three points and maybe half the League.
Simeone opted for the team that has been playing in recent games, with a rather offensive midfield, with Koke and Saúl managing the team's game, Marcos Llorente and Carrasco on the flanks, and Correa and Luis Suárez leading the way. Cholo, who considered putting João Félix at the start, trusted those who have maintained the type in this final stretch of the championship. La Real, for its part, also trusted many of the regulars, with Isak as the spearhead, with Portu entering from the right and Oyarzabal going down to receive.
Atlético understood from the first moment what was at stake and was determined to hurt Real Sociedad. Something similar to what happened a few days before at the Camp Nou. In fifteen minutes, before Carrasco's goal, Atlético had already had a couple of very clear chances. And almost in the most complicated he made it 1-0, in a play where Carrasco showed all his hunger in the face of the goal that he has been missing at certain times. But with the title at stake, the Belgian put the toe in front of the passivity of the visiting defense. A matter of faith, conviction …
Atlético saw their rival injured and understood that it was time to extend the advantage. He did it in a play where Luis Suárez showed that he has quality and that he has a lot of football behind him. He controlled a ball, got a body and gave Correa an assist, a gift, that the Argentine did not miss. The half hour had not been reached and Atlético found themselves with a good advantage, although the most important thing was the sensations: they barely let Real out, very much on top of all their rival players, cutting off any passing lane …
The crash did change something after the 2-0 and La Real tried to create danger, go upstairs. He did it because he has high-level players. Isak, twice, tested Oblak, although Simeone's team also has a goalkeeper. Atlético already waited for their rival, paparapetado behind but with the idea of the counterattack. Correa could finish deciding the clash, but before Remiro he preferred to give Carrasco a death pass that went wrong.
Atlético completed a very good first half, with all their players very involved, very plugged, sin giving a meter or granting a break to some Real players puzzled at times. In the second half it was a matter of continuing on the same line and closing the clash with some deadly counterattack. Atlético was able to solve the match on the fast track, but Luis Suárez missed a very clear chance, alone in front of the visiting goalkeeper. When the Cholo team stepped on the opposite field, they found spaces to reach Remiro's area, but they did not have a spark in those final meters. La Real moved the bench and then some of those with the fewest minutes did enter. Y La Real sought to reduce distances, now with Portu as the main threat to Oblak, but the Slovenian diverted to a corner.
Atlético never got upset, he waited patiently in his field with the idea of not running any danger. Simeone also moved token and gave entry to João Félix and Kondogbia, one to unbalance and the other to give oxygen to the center of the field. Lis Suárez, in the absence of a little more than ten minutes, again failed another of those actions that does not usually err. The Uruguayan was failed, but very active, quarrelsome, with the good assistance to Correa. La Real was able to get into the game with a triple chance with ten minutes to go. He did not score, but he did score in a row in a corner. The Atletico suffered, as is customary, to win. He did it unnecessarily because he did not hit the rival goal.