Atlético beat Eibar and distances itself even further from its main pursuer, a Real Madrid that is seven points behind the rojiblanco team. Simeone’s team came back from a game that got very ugly, although Cholo’s team turned it around. Luis Suárez was the main protagonist in a game that João Félix started again from the bench. It is the third time that it has happened in a row and right now the Portuguese has lost his status as the undisputed starter in the Madrid team.
Simeone put Luis Suárez and Correa at the top of the attack against Eibar. The Argentine has won the game over João Félix in recent games and started again. Although at halftime Cholo moved the bench and put the Portuguese on the field of play instead of the Argentine. João Félix started weak, although he went from less to more and finished at a good level. In the The final stretch of the match had a chance with a good shot that Dmitrovic deflected to kick off corner.
The Portuguese celebrated the 1-2 penalty scored by Luis Suárez in style. He was very happy with the goal that gave his team three important points. But for the second part of the season it is clear that he must improve to regain his place in the team. In the last three games he has been a substitute: Alavés, Sevilla and Eibar. He has not started since the clash with Getafe, on December 30.
João Félix has played 16 LaLiga games and only missed Real Sociedad, due to injury. He has scored five goals and given four assists. He started the season very well, being one of the most important players on his team and then he had a slump, which Correa took advantage of to get a place in the eleven. The calendar dictates that Atlético play this Sunday against Valencia (9:00 p.m.) and it will be necessary to see if the Portuguese plays from the start or is back on the bench.
Of the 16 league games he has started in nine games. He scored against Granada, Osasuna, two goals, and Cádiz, another two goals. In the league championship he has not scored since November 7, when he made the aforementioned double against the Cadiz team. Therefore, he has not scored a goal in LaLiga for more than two months. Simeone has a great bench background but João Félix has to be unbalancing in the second round of the league tournament.
