Atlético started to overlook in Cornellà of the League battle. Actually, Diego Simeone’s boys had begun to overlook for a very long time: he has misplaced eight of the final 12 factors and is six of the chief, Barcelona, which this Sunday receives Girona. As a consequence of the agitated agenda of its gamers and with an eye fixed on the cup, Simeone opted for rotations in entrance of a tough host like Espanyol. The consequence was a bitter attract a recreation with out rhythm or soccer.
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Joan García, Omar el Hilali, Mashah Kumbulla, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero, jofre races (Antonu Roca, min. 61), Javi Pure (Aguaro Aguado, Min. 90), Alex lo (Feduis Exposit, min. 45) and Robert Fernandez (the mill, min. 77)
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Jan Oblak, Clément Lenglet, Marcos Llorente, Robin Le Normand (José María Giménez, min. 27), césar azpilicueta (reinildo, min. 80), Giuliano Simeone (Nahuel Molina, Min. 63), Pablo Barrios, Conor Gallagher
Goals
0-1 min. 37: Azpilicueta. 1-1 min. 70: Javi Puado
Referee Javier Alberola Rojas
Yellow playing cards
Marash Kumbula (min. 20), Alejo Véliz (min. 72), Giménez (min. 90)
The overexploitation of the gamers, that justified criticism that leads in Spain Ancelotti and Flick, appears, at instances, a matter of sophistication. Few higher examples than the duel between Espanyol and Atlético to stage this distinction. While the noble rojiblanco crew had amassed six video games within the final 35 days, the modest crew of Manolo González had solely performed two. At the identical time that the blue and white boys misplaced aggressive rhythm, Simeone’s burned their legs. The Argentine coach, in actual fact, needed to go away three of his finest pearls on the bench, one per line: Giménez, Paul and Julián Alvarez, the three additionally conditioned by the break of picks and their demanding journey to South America.
The break for Giménez, nonetheless, lasted little. After a head of heads with Roberto Fernández, Le Normand needed to go away the sector. The Atlético physician didn’t need to take dangers after the Spanish crew defender suffered a cranioesephalic trauma with subdural hematoma final September, within the derby in opposition to Real Madrid. The untimely departure from Le Normand altered the remaining plan, however not its recreation concept.
Football is straightforward, sure; But it’s not simple. Thus, groups equivalent to Espanyol seem, which completely perceive find out how to develop an accurate recreation, in order for you pragmatic, however removed from simplicity and, in fact, the present. Simeone, exactly, has been a trainer on this of exploiting tactical advantage, at all times affected person to search out the time to assault the rival.
The drawback, for the viewer, in fact, is when groups equivalent to Espanyol and Atlético are crossed. And that the duel had threatened to stand up to feelings. However, Llorente’s aim on the daybreak of the sport was choking the rojiblanca followers for a Griezmann offside. Then the duel fell right into a stage of examine that threatened to eternalize. Without information of the areas, a lot lower than the goalkeepers. Everything handed at a quiet tempo, with out areas for counterattacks. Espanyol appeared to style: the trio shaped by Pol Lozano, Kral and Urko, who collectively within the discipline haven’t identified defeat, lined with out issues the cross traces of neighborhoods and Gallagher, who didn’t get up or when Griezmann approached to maneuver the leather-based.
French was not comfy in Cornellà. And that was of celebration: he already provides 521 video games within the league and consolidated himself because the foreigner with extra video games, surpassing Leo Messi, at present exiled within the MLS, casually the destiny with which Griezmann goals when his stage ends within the Metropolitan, a stage that’s glimpsed each nearer day. With neighborhoods in Babia and Griezmann apathetic, the shadow of the absence of De Paul was billed in Cornellà. There was no rhythm or fluidity in an athletic that was near the Joan García space with extra commerce than Impetu, by no means in danger in any case for the gifted Espanyol goalkeeper.
Only a mistake or a genius may break the monotony from nothing. It was a genius. And it was the least considerate man. Azpilicueta, a tactical however non -technical chief of Simeone, took off after a drought of 133 video games within the league. With a good looking volley, the protection fished a ball within the crescent and caught it within the Joan García squad. It was the twentieth aim of his profession, the primary with the shirt of a Spanish crew within the league.
Atlético’s aim didn’t blind Simeone’s gaze. First he despatched the sector A de Paul after which, to awaken extra worry within the blue and white space, Julián Alvarez. It occurred that, removed from approaching Joan García, Atlético cornered himself close to Oblak. And Espanyol took benefit of each the rojiblancos reculf and the Error of Lenglet. The Central took Cabrera from the shirt within the space and Padado despatched the leather-based to the identical squad wherein Azpilicueta had autographed his aim.
The tables on the scoreboard didn’t insurgent Atlético, a brand new Espanyol sufferer in Cornellà, who doesn’t lose in his fief since October 25, when he fell to Sevilla. The tie leaves Simeone virtually with out choices within the league after saying goodbye to the Champions League. Waiting, sure, to obtain Barcelona within the second leg of the semifinal of the Copa del Rey (4-4 within the first leg).
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