Sorloth missed a header to win and on the next play, Berenguer unleashed a tight strike and took Atlético out of the League. The sequence portrayed an overexcited duel in every field.
The two teams performed from the first play with the fervor of their great goal in the championship. Those of Valverde, renew participation in the Champions League, those of Simeone, prolong the fight for the title for as long as possible. Two coaches who ordered their players to apply the entire current football manual. at all fields and the revolutions at maximum, mainly for pressure. Let the game not stop and the ball fly after the break. Two touches at most and run to the spaces. And the first to run them was Jauregizar, on the right, who put a cross to Nico Williams that did not arrive. Afterwards, Areso also added a candy that Guruzeta turned into a mistake.
Curious about Areso and Pubill. The first was Atlético’s objective to reinforce the right back. The second started last night as a center back in the League. It was one of Simeone’s big bets in an eleven in which Llorente, Giménez, Cardoso and Baena could not appear due to injury. Pubill had good workmanship, and he passed with flying colors the examination of the bodywork with the forwards, which is one of the records that at first can make the wingers recently converted to center backs have more doubts. He also showed the concentration the position requires when he darted across to save Hancko’s back.
In that two-goal football, Atlético also tried to sting. His best action was a hairstyle by Nico González, who has assumed the role of hairdresser. Julián Alvarez picked it up on the run on the right. His measured touch was caught by Almada with a good low volley. Unai Simón, on the wrong foot, with the tip of his right boot, made one of those impossible saves that still justify his ownership for Valverde and Luis de la Fuente. In a couple of cuts in the crescent and the bitten shot that he hooked, when he had Giuliano free to his right, they revealed Julián Alvarez as a star in need of regaining his shine. Of course, his work in pressure is unquestionable. The problem is that his size as a differential player depends on the attacking actions that are decisive.
That type of full-throttle match generated an ideal context for Nico Williams, sharper and honing and growing until he reigned in the match. It was also a good habitat for an arrival like Sancet, equally in need of taking flight. Areso served him two good crosses that he finished off without success. In this swing of the game, the midfielders also played decisive roles. In Athletic, Jauregizar and the seasoned and fine Ruiz de Galarreta. At Atlético, Barrios, who was given command by Simeone in the absence of Baena and Cardoso and the substitution. He commanded to set the pace of play for his team with first-class drives or touches. His guard, Gallagher, somehow portrayed what also gave off so much liveliness in the game. The losses and haste in the entries that generated four yellow cards in less than twenty minutes, his, Jauregizar, Laporte and Galarreta. The Frenchman had to retire after half an hour with muscle problems.
The pace led to a game that, if it fell on one side or the other, would depend on who had the most lungs and which team had the best performance. It was Athletic that maintained its presence in the opposite field the longest after the restart. Cheered on by a dedicated stand, Williams broke through and put goal balls to Guruzeta and Sancet. Simeone and Valverde were giving reel to their substitutes. Cholo had brought on Koke to leave Gallagher in the locker room at halftime. Then Raspodori, Ruggeri and Griezmann entered. This one for the downcast Julián Alvarez. Valverde put Unai Góméz, Rego, Izeta and Gorosabel in. Sorloth missed that free header and Berenguer, with his right hand, dealt the final blow.
