Atlético fell dramatically in the knockout stages of the Youth League, in the penalty shoot-out after the local goalkeeper Reiziger left at the last minute to stop three penalties and mark the final in a coach's master move John Heitinga, former rojiblanco player.
Despite the defeat on penalties against Ajax, Atletico returned to leave good feelings and his figure, Rodrigo Riquelme, gave samples of his class. In a very close match, corseted and with few occasions, the mattress midfielder was about to score in the final minutes of the match with a right from outside the area looking for the opposing squad that left touching the crossbar and that he could have given the pass to the rojiblancos.
He also tested the rival goal through a fast driving in the first half, although his shot with the left ended comfortably in the hands of Raatsie. Riquelme could not have a performance as bright as against the Rangers, where he gave an authentic exhibition for the Athletic classification in the pre-eighth round. The 19-year-old finished with three assists and a real football recital starting slightly displaced to the left wing with full freedom to move towards the middle, increasing his radius of participation.
A surge that has led him to debut with the first team under the tutelage of Simeone and that caused scouts of Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar go to the Toekomst Sportpark in Amsterdam to witness Riquelme's evolutions live thinking of trying to seduce the player to consider trying his luck in a minor league but increasingly competitive either as a transfer or as a loan to gain experience in the first division.
Riquelme left a fantastic American tour with Atlético, gaining more and more prominence to be confirmed as one of the great pearls of the quarry mattress. Its evolution led Cholo to rely on the midfielder in the third day of the League in full comeback against Eibar. Riquelme had his official debut in minute 78 with 2-2 on the scoreboard and witnessed on the field both of Thomas' victory. He also played in Copa del Rey before the Cultural Leonesa (18 minutes), where Atlético was attached to the first exchange. Roro disputed the end of the extension where they ended up passing the Leon.
In Second Division B Riquelme is a key player for the second rojiblanco team, where the downturn in recent weeks has moved the first place to six points which occupies Atlético Baleares, but Atleti B remains third with the sights set on the promotion playoff. 19 year old player add five goals and two assists in 20 games. But it has been in the Youth League where he has dazzled. Riquelme left a superb match in Russia against Lokomotiv, double included, and after highlighting during the rest of the group stage he shone with his own light in Scotland against the Rangers. Atletico knows that he has a great pearl in the midfielder and is taking care of him (he trains regularly with the first team) attentive to the interest he is awakening, with great following in the Netherlands.