• Narration and statistics. 2-1 in the Metropolitan
  • Classification. 32nd day

For a very long time, Atlético must have thought that, far from being in its Metropolitano, it was actually in the Thermopylae Pass. The feeling of frustration of the Persian troops, more than 2,000 years ago, should not have been much different. Because Alavés turned the road to Pacheco's goal into a narrow journey. What did change was the way to assault him. Between Saul's head and Trippier's right hand they broke down the wall. The old red and white formula of the stopped ball. Costa settled the penalty matter. And in both plays was Marcos Llorente's seal , which does not understand substitutions. Only two weeks have been enough for Atlético to sleep in Champions on loose legs.

And that last night, the impassable road, full of traps and mines. At times, the defensive line of Vitoria resembled a chain link of six players, with Edgar and Aleix Vidal covering with cement any fissure that could appear on the firm walls raised by Asier Garitano for the occasion.

The fifth revolution of Simeone in his initial bet, with another good handful of changes, he could barely get into that jungle that was the Alavés area. And it is that if any player of the Basque team was confused, his teammates on the bench always had their lungs well tuned to sound the alarm. Patience seemed the only possible recipe to assault such a gorge. Joao Félix could have done it , when the match dawned, but his beautiful Chilean shot ended up whistling the post. Or even Saúl, coming from behind, as he likes best, but his head butt lacked precision.

An hour to hit the key

The match was played within a span of the field. The span where Alavés was sheltering with pleasure in his trench, awaiting the rojiblancas attacks. That formula that Simeone knows, although with a little more offensive spark, and that has given him more than a joy when a giant has got in his way. The fact is that without precision or speed and with not too many ideas, Atlético went to rest as one who insists on hitting a wall against a wall for 45 minutes. At least, it had no bumps because the rival cons didn't hurt.

It took almost an hour for Atlético to hit the key. And everything was born again from Llorente's legs. His first stampede led to Saúl's header. The second, trotting through the area as if he had spent a lifetime doing so, ended in a penalty that the VAR confirmed, despite the lack of sharpness of the play.

Hugo intrigues for a penalty in the twilight, but Atlético already had his fourth consecutive victory tied. A new streak in this course for those of Simeone who, without making a noise, have accelerated to the Champions League.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports
  • Joao Félix
  • Marcos Llorente
  • soccer
  • Deportivo Alavés
  • Atlético de Madrid
  • Diego Simeone
  • Diego Costa

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