Lato helps an Atlético without a goal

Atlético took an important victory against Valencia, which for much of the match only worried about defending itself. Only when he was behind on the scoreboard did Gracia's team try hard to find the goal that would give him the tie. Atlético manifests an obvious problem with the goal. In this case he had the help of Lato, who scored on his own door. The rojiblancos do not give in.

Atlético was the clear dominator in the first half that was not characterized by being played at great speed. Simeone played with three center-backs (Savic, Giménez and Hermoso) and two wingers (Trippier and Lodi), with Koke pivoting ahead of the defense, Lemar as midfielder and Correa up front. Saúl and Llorente helped inside. The rotations affected João Félix and Carrasco this time. Atlético had the ball, control and one of their great concerns was that Valencia did not run against it. Total control of the visitors, although without great occasions.

The best in this first half was Lemar. The Frenchman moved well between the lines, snaked and fired a few dangerous shots. The second, already around the break, could lead to 0-1, but Jaume made a good intervention. In games with defenses as closed and as well arranged as Valencia's, Lemar has to be decisive. A footballer of that level cannot forget to play football.

Valencia, meanwhile, did not break down. He had trouble getting out of his plot, but it felt good to hide in front of his keeper. And as soon as he found spaces, he went quickly to the counter, with Yunus and Guedes ready to catch Atlético on the counter. Maxi barely found any space to unsettle Oblak. Correa and Marcos Llorente tried again, but Jaume remained firm. Valencia did not arrive much either, but enough for Atlético to understand that he was there, ready to take advantage of some rojiblanco oversight.

Sijmeone moved a chip after the break and put João Félix on the pitch. He entered through Lodi, who is not the old man. The Brazilian penetrated well for his band, but at the moment of truth he did not make any dangerous cross. The entry of the Portuguese led Lemar to move to the left. From there he tried to channel the Atlético game. The tonic was the same, similar. Those of Cholo with the ball, playing with patience and Valencia tightly closed, pressing, crouching to revolutionize the clash against. Neither Carlos Soler nor Racic lost their place.

Lemar had it again, although Wass deflected the shot of the Frenchman who was already sneaking in. At game time Carrasco appeared. More mordant in attack and a new tactical variant, with the Belgian as the left wing keeper and Lemar changing sides, although the French, already tired, lasted only a few more minutes on the field, as Cholo put Vitolo and Kondogbia in battle .

Valencia continued to be a fronton. The minutes went by without anything really important happening. At this stage of the meeting, as much as Atlético had great possession of the ball, it seemed clear that the rojiblanco team has a big problem: the lack of a pure nine, of a forward can materialize the chances. Without Luis Suárez and Costa, the team does not have a reference above. Simeone awaits the return of the Uruguayan forward like a blessing.

Atlético scored with eleven minutes to go and Lato did it on his own goal. The play was by Carrasco, with a perfect center that ended up touching the left-handed side of Valencia. Playing so close and so close to your goal carries these risks. Valencia already went up, but Atlético had the ball and did not allow any serious approach to the Valencian team. Oblak left again without fitting in.