Alavés punishes Atlético's hangover and complicates the Champions League for them | The truth

Two beautifully crafted goals decided the duel between weakened teams, in the midst of a hangover. The Vitorian due to the defeat of the previous day in Granada, against an almost relegated rival, which prevented him from breathing easy regarding the relegation. The Madrid native after Borussia's barrage in Dortmund that precipitated his goodbye to the Champions League when the Colchoneros were dreaming of the semifinals.

This emotional situation was better focused by Alavés, spurred by the defeat of Cádiz in Girona that allowed them to open a considerable gap with respect to the red zone. The babazorro team was much more plugged in, so much so that they were charged with two yellow cards in the first minutes but they also punished with a wonderful interior hit by Benavídez, who placed it where he wanted from the front of the athletic area and took advantage of the red-and-white lack of forcefulness in the clearance.

The setback took its toll on Atlético, with very little energy. And Cholo Simeone's men came out losers in each duel. The contrast in intensity was total compared to Guridi, Kike García or Giuliano Simeone himself. There is no worse wedge than that of the same wood, his father must have thought on the visiting bench, with his team overwhelmed by the generosity of Alavés' effort.

Lino's one-on-one, an individual resource against the shipwreck, was one of the few notable things in the first half of a downbeat Atlético in Mendizorroza. The clearest of the visitors was a high shot by Giménez, which allowed a glimpse of some athletic green shoot before the break. That sensation could have been caused by a hand from Azpilicueta in the mattress area, but Gil Manzano, assisted by the VAR, interpreted that it occurred after a previous impact on the Navarrese's head.

I want to but I can not

With Saúl as a resource from the bench, Atlético seemed to take a step forward after the break, although their greater impetus in the pressure gave Alavés the possibility of punishing the counterattack, as in a transition that Kike García culminated with a high shot . At the opposite end of the field, there was a lot of red and white possession near the Vitoria area, but it was empty without the ability to challenge the solid blue and white defensive framework.

It was a will and a miss from Atlético, who took a long time to threaten a tie. First with a centered shot from Lino, timid, into the hands of Sivera, after a good combination with Correa. Then with the Argentine's shot, the most active at the end, which at least gave the Alavés goalkeeper more work. Too late, as the Colchonero team did not generate much more and went to the canvas with Rioja's great volley goal. They will arrive at the Champions League direct duel against Athletic on the next day with only a three-point margin over the Cup champion. They have the Metropolitano left, where this unreliable visitor changes completely.