Atlético dealt a major blow to Betis, who had been living in the Champions zone for almost the entire course and who fought as hard as they could to prevent Simeone’s men from turning the situation around. An important victory for Atlético, the third in a row, achieved essentially thanks to their success on the counterattack, taking advantage of the steals of their midfielders. Betis, plagued by substitutes, were very brave and beat Atlético in the first half. Period in which the visitors were very stingy, trying to save João Felix’s early goal. Betis tried, but fell to the knee before the success of the Portuguese striker, author of two goals and leader of his team.
1
Bravo, Víctor Ruiz, Sabaly, Guardado (Tello, min. 10), Bartra, Paul Akouokou (Guido Rodríguez, min. 57), Aitor Ruibal, William Carvalho, Joaquín (Juanmi, min. 65), Fekir and Borja Iglesias (Willian Jose, minute 65)
3
Oblak, Vrsaljko (Carrasco, min. 20), Giménez, Reinildo Mandava, Felipe Monteiro, Renan Augusto (Lemar, min. 45), Marcos Llorente, Héctor Herrera, De Paul (Javier Serrano, min. 82), João Félix (Luis Suárez, min. 82) and Correa (Griezmann, min. 26)
goals 0-1 min. 1: Joao Felix. 1-1 min. 49: Tello. 1-2 minutes 60: Joao Felix. 1-3 min. 79: Lemar.
Referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez
Yellow cards Borja Iglesias (min. 22), Héctor Herrera (min. 33), Paul Akouokou (min. 39), Bartra (min. 49), Carrasco (min. 62), Tello (min. 70), Marcos Llorente (min. 86) and Aitor Ruibal (min. 86)
Atlético is also rehabilitated thanks to the contribution of players like Griezmann and Lemar, who gave it another air in the second half. Betis never handed over the towel, cracked by the accumulation of games and weighed down by the poor performance of their central player Víctor Ruiz, who missed all three of Atlético’s goals. In that left area, the people of Madrid also found a highway due to the absence of Álex Moreno and Miranda, the team’s two left-backs. Injured Guardado after 10 minutes, Aitor Ruibal, a right winger, had to act as a left-back.
With the success of João Félix and the drops of quality from Oblak, Griezmann and Lemar, Atlético took a wonderful victory from Seville against this Betis who played very well, but who did not know how to hit in the decisive moments of the game, those moments in those that the shock could be theirs.
Atlético, league champions, try to recover in the decisive stretch with a return to their essence, to defend with order when they get ahead on the scoreboard and simply be a wall for the rival. Simeone’s team that does not play too much, with a low rhythm of the match. A laudable tactic in this Atlético that was facing a final for the Champions positions with this very thriving Betis. A tactic, moreover, that came to his face when João Felix scored two minutes after a chain failure by the Verdiblanca defense. The Portuguese was right after a good pass from Correa. It was the only shot on goal by Atlético in the first half in which Simeone’s men dwindled before the push of a proud Betis.
A Betis with the losses of its wings Bellerín and Álex Moreno, with Canales absent due to suspension and with two more games in his legs than Atlético in the previous clash. A Betis where Joaquín played as a starter for the first time in the League, with seven changes compared to those who made it to the Cup final last Thursday. Between Atlético’s withdrawal and the injuries to Guardado, Vrsaljko and Correa, the match had little continuity. That yes, progressively, as William Carvalho and Fekir were coming into play, Betis was taking control of the ball.
Especially after Sabaly saved a very clear counterattack from Atlético with everything in his favor to make it 0-2, by clearing a pass from Carrasco. Betis overcame the interruptions with an increasingly high pace, until they were able to subdue Atlético in the final stretch of the first half. Unpublished Griezmann, Correa’s substitute, and very only João Felix, the one who commanded was Betis, who freed himself from his complexes to go shamelessly for his rival. De Paul had a very clear chance under the sticks, Bartra finished off with everything in favor outside and in a five-minute extension, Sabaly pressed a ball with faith against Herrera. The ball reached Tello, who drew a beautiful shot with his left foot to beat Oblak.
Betis came out bossy in the second half. Tello, very active, enjoyed a clear chance that Oblak saved. A decisive intervention because it settled an Atlético that began to see the gaps on the counterattack. Felipe sent the ball to the post, a warning of what came next. Atlético played wonders with their options with an open field. Víctor Ruiz looked like a child against Llorente’s run, who gave the pass of death to the effective João Felix. Bravo saved Betis on two more occasions, already mortally wounded in a race that Griezmann beat Víctor Ruiz again. Lemar scored and placed Atlético in the Champions zone, from which Betis leaves for now.
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