There was not much desire to play in some or others. It’s hard not to turn your head to the tragedy that is being experienced in the Valencian Community, but since the employers forced it to happen and after an emotional minute of silence for the victims in the Metropolitan, in which the Valencian anthem was played over the public address system , both teams got to it. And without much brilliance, but with the desire and intensity that was lacking other times, Atleti fairly won a victory that is a balm against a Las Palmas team that was as clean in its game as it was harmless.
In this continuous dance of chips that Simeone performs every game, Nahuel started as a center back on the right, forming a defensive line with Giménez and Lenglet, leaving the lanes to Giuliano and Galán, who were two of the most outstanding of the rojiblancos, especially in the first time. Cholo’s son has something very important in a soccer player: hunger. He shows what he is, a young man who wants to earn merits in the team of his life and prove that he has a place even if his technical qualities are not excellent. In his case, also, with a double reason, so that they do not say that he is there because of who he is. His physical display and intensity are very necessary right now in a team that does not have enough of it. He starred in the first arrival of the match with a drive culminated in a cross from near the baseline that was rejected by the goalkeeper.
Giuliano also infected his teammates, who were ready to roll up their sleeves. Griezmann and Julián showed it fighting to recover a ball at the start of the Canarian attack that ended up in the boots of Barrios whose shot was rejected by goalkeeper Cillessen. Galán, another of those who plays with high revolutions, struck again and again from the left, but his crosses could not find a finisher. What Griezmann’s cross did find was McKenna’s separate, albeit low, hand in the area. The VAR notified De Burgos Bengoetxea to go see the action on the monitor, but the referee understood that there were no reasons to call a penalty. Just the opposite of what many of his teammates decide in similar plays.
Las Palmas tried to impose their pace of play, playing with discretion, but without depth. His only shot in the entire game, however, came in a quick action of three passes: a throw-in by the goalkeeper, a header extension from an active Fabio Silva and a first-touch pass from Sandro to Fabio himself who finished cross-court, forcing Oblak to deflect for a corner. . Atleti had the ball more time, but it was difficult for them to create danger. He couldn’t do it in a play or even with a set piece. He took several corner kicks and failed to finish any of them. In several of them, the rebound from the visiting defense went to Barrios, but all of his shots went wide.
And on the first occasion that Atleti caught the Canarian defense off guard and out of place, the goal came. With Diego Martínez’s men ahead, the disputed Nahuel threw a great pass behind the defense to uncheck Giuliano, who touched the ball with his head to make it run and at the height of the peak of the small area he crossed the ball in front of Cillessen to place the first. He celebrated his first goal with the team as he deserved and also in the way he played: together with Koke, with a raised shirt that read “Força i Ánims”, in tribute to the Valencian people.
The advantage could have been doubled just before the break, since Griezmann was about to score the second when he sent a pass from Barrios from the right wing to the crossbar with his left foot in the small area.
Simeone took off Lino and Barrios at half-time, who reappeared after injury, and brought on Gallagher and another man discussed by the stands, De Paul, who received some whistles in his first interventions. Surely aware of how questioned he is among the Colchonero parish, the Argentine came out with the attitude that other times he lacks. And when he’s in the mood, he usually shows the football inside him. He began his outstanding second half by filtering a pass to Nahuel that was ruined by poor control by the winger, in an action in which he ended up giving Cillessen an avoidable blow to the head. The goalkeeper had to leave the game and was replaced by Horkas, which allowed for six substitutions per team.
Between hits, fouls and changes, the game had very little continuity and rhythm in the second half. Things barely happened. Atleti gave the sensation of having it under control, but with a narrow lead they could not rest easy, even if Las Palmas did not threaten. Simeone wanted to reactivate his attack and removed Julián and Griezmann to bring in Correa and Sorloth. On the visiting side, Diego Martínez withdrew Sandro and Campaña for Muñoz and Mc Burnie.
We had to wait until the 83rd minute for the clash to be decided. Another great pass from De Paul from his own half found a crack in the yellow defense and the unmarking of Sorloth, who faced the goal and in one-on-one this time he did not fail, achieving the second with a good shot at mid-height. Despite not being brilliant in finishing during his red-and-white stage, the Norwegian is already the team’s top scorer in the League with four goals.
And with nine minutes added on, a match ended in which Atleti recovered some of its hallmarks. Now he has two level exams coming up, Paris and Mallorca, in the subject that is most difficult for him, away games. We’ll see if it confirms sensations or returns to its old ways.
There was not much desire to play in some or others. It’s hard not to let your head go to the tragedy that is being experienced in the Valencian Community, but since the employers forced it to happen and after an emotional minute of silence for the victims in the Metropolitan, in which the anthem was played over the public address system. ..
#Forca #anims
