Football finally picked up the baton of the red-and-white news after several weeks full of news about sanctions, appeals and punishment proposals, which had their final epilogue (for the moment) in the sad image of seeing the south end of the Metropolitano empty and knowing that thousands could not enjoy the game because of the unconsciousness of a few. That Leganés could take advantage of the troubled waters was a possibility and they did a lot to make it happen, to the point of turning the match into a toothache for the red and whites, who with pick and shovel and the energy of the changes, especially the youngest of the Simeone, Giuliano, was able to finish the match adding a victory that smells like a balm.
Atleti started the game with intention, but without any bite. He persistently turned the game to the left wing, where Griezmann, Riquelme and a very active Galán were gathered, moving not only along the side, but also through interior areas to surprise. But the team’s ability to overcome lines and unbalance the defense was nil, given the great defensive work of Leganés, which left no gaps. On the right, Nahuel was once again the timid player who did not dare and Correa did not succeed in his attempts. Almost all local attacks were killed near the area.
The closest he came to the goal, and that is saying a lot, was in an attempt by Sorloth, who weakly finished off a ball centered by Koke into Dmitrovic’s hands and that beat Griezmann, and another by Correa after picking up a loose ball and turning in the area. Simeone’s team had the ball but they were overwhelmed because they didn’t know what to do with it and Leganés enjoyed defending because the plan worked out perfectly.
He was doing so well that little by little he gained confidence and thanks to the good work and physical display, mainly, of Cissé and Neyou, and the quality details of Raba and Juan Cruz, he was thinking about doing something more than defending. In good high pressure, they recovered the ball, Raba gave it inside the big area to Neyou, who without opposition hit a strong shot that sent the ball into the corner to make it 0-1 in the 34th minute. The local response was limited to a new bitten shot from Correa and a shot from Riquelme that Dmitrovic sent for a corner.
Simeone brought on Lino for Nahuel at half-time, moving Riquelme to the right wing. He showed that it was not Correa’s day by throwing out a one-on-one that Griezmann gave him. The Argentine was one of those who went to the bench shortly after along with Riquelme and Koke, with Giuliano, De Paul and Julián Álvarez taking his place. Sometimes changes work and sometimes they don’t. This time they did work because they gave more energy to the team, especially thanks to Giuliano who, in a new position for him, that of right winger, came out ready to earn the position and make his father smile, making good on that motto. of the club: ‘From parents to children’. He soon got down to it, giving a side-to-side pass in the area to Lino that the Brazilian sent wide when he arrived a tenth late.
After Lenglet’s injury, when Witsel fell on him during a clearance, Giménez had to come out in his place. Time passed and although Atleti did not let Leganés out, the goals did not come. Until in the 69th minute, Giuliano combined with Witsel in the area and near the baseline the Belgian looked for Griezmann, cut off a defender and the second time he connected with Sorloth, who with a backheel made it 1-1.
The star protagonist was Giuliano, who saved a long delivery from De Paul, first preventing it from going out of bounds and then along the back line, to come back towards the area and give a pass that Griezmann transformed into 2-1 by putting the tip of the boot and get ahead of Dmitrovic. 81 minutes had taken Atleti to lead the scoreboard.
After another scare for the red and whites in the form of a referee decision (Munuera showed Griezmann the red card for a tackle that did not deserve it and that the VAR had to correct so that it remained yellow), and a fall by Munir in the area that It was not enough for a penalty, peace of mind came in added time after Julián Álvarez persisted twice for a ball that ended up reaching Sorloth so that the Norwegian scored a double and made it 3-1.
A victory that cost effort, sweat, and even tears. Those of Barrios, who ended the game sunk after noticing that he had surely injured his muscle again. A setback that, waiting to see what Lenglet has, represents an expensive bill. Beyond the three points for the locals, which is not little, it was a strange afternoon at the Metropolitano despite celebrating the day of the peñas, bitter for many rojiblancos who could not be present and bittersweet for the pepineros because of the good image given but for going empty.
Football finally picked up the baton of the red-and-white news after several weeks full of news about sanctions, appeals and punishment proposals, which had their final epilogue (for the moment) in the sad image of seeing the south end of the Metropolitano empty and knowing that thousands could not enjoy the…
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