Madrid (AFP)
Atlético Madrid are not changed: efficiency and iron defense have allowed Colchoneros to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 and return to Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league on Saturday during a 10th day temporarily orphan of his clasico.
To hope for a total show, it will be necessary to wait for December 18, new date of the clasico Barcelona-Real Madrid, planned Saturday but postponed because of the demonstrations in Catalonia. Meanwhile, the place was free for the second roles of La Liga.
Starting with Atlético (2nd, 19 pts), which is between Barça (1st, 19 pts) and Real (3rd, 18 pts). While waiting for the meeting of Granada (5th, 17 pts), which could be surprise leader Sunday in case of success against Betis Seville.
By mixing his favorite ingredients, defensive seriousness and offensive efficiency, Diego Simeone's team returns to victory in the league after three draws. The best defense of La Liga with only five goals conceded, Atléti have lost only one match this season, in all competitions, against Real Sociedad on September 14 (4th day, 2-0).
- Thanks Oblak -
Despite the absence of his rookie rookie Joao Felix, right-ankle injured, and his two central defenders Jose Gimenez and Stefan Savic, Atlético confirmed that winning him in his lair of the Metropolitano was practically impossible.
Behind an experimental central defense formed by the two rookies Felipe and Mario Hermoso, the unstoppable Jan Oblak has once again given reason to those who give him the title of best goalkeeper in the world.
In two parades of class, he disgusted the Basques: from the second minute, he pushes a head on a corner that was spinning in the skylight. Then at half an hour of play, it extends again to release a powerful strike well crossed by the old house Raul Garcia.
Meanwhile, the Colchoneros opened the scoring after a superb job by Angel Correa, a three-player dribbler and decisive passer for Saul, who scored his first goal of the season by misleading Unai Simon with a shot that could have be better placed (28th).
Before half-time, it was Kieran Trippier who came this time to save the Madrilenians, countering a shot by Garcia (40th). After the break Bilbao missed the opportunity to return to the score on a superb center-deflection-chisel action, but the acrobatic shot of Iker Muniain finished his race (52nd).
What gave way to a second goal, signed Morata (64th), which had not concluded in Liga since the first day. Well alone at the back post, the striker took over Argentinean Correa's center, again, to put Atléti at bay.
At the other end of the rankings, things moved on Saturday, with the first win this season for Leganés. Against Majorca, the suburban Madrid club won 1-0 to temporarily give the red lantern place to Espanyol Barcelona, which plays Sunday on the field of Levante.
© 2019 AFP