Madrid (AFP)
They come back strong! Thanks to a superb gesture by Marcos Llorente which led to Atlético Madrid's victory Tuesday at Levante 1-0 for the 31st day of Liga, the Colchoneros have confirmed that they are more than ever back in football Spanish.
Wednesday, Marcos Llorente (25 years old) put on the crampons of Dennis Bergkamp during an action: the Spanish midfielder distilled a marvel of control oriented at the entrance of the surface which recalls the famous goal of the ex - Dutch international Arsenal against Newcastle in 2002. Gesture which, on Tuesday, led to the goal against his camp of Bruno Gonzalez (15th) and sealed the resurrection of the Madrilenians.
With this touch of offensive madness, Llorente (27 games, 4 goals and 3 assists in all competitions this season) symbolized the revival of the men of Diego Simeone, who, with this success, accumulated a draw (1-1 in Bilbao) and three wins (5-0 at Osasuna and 1-0 against Valladolid) since the recovery of the La Liga.
The "rojiblancos" were relegated beyond the European places after their defeat in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on penalties against Real Madrid in January (0-0, 4-1), but have again become eligible for the League of champions with their third place in La Liga, which they recover at the expense of Seville.
A victory on the Valencian coast which has its merit: even the giants FC Barcelona, in November (3-1), and Real Madrid, in February (1-0) have in turn broken their teeth this season.
The Madrid could have won more widely but lacked realism before goals, with 13 strikes including 7 on target but a solid Aitor Fernandez in his cages with 8 saves.
They also manage to outrun the surprise Getafe in the race for the Champions League, a club which failed to win at the same time in Valladolid on Tuesday evening (1-1).
With this success, Atlético (55 pts) certainly finds the podium but remains ten points from FC Barcelona (2nd), which receives Athletic Bilbao later in the evening this Tuesday (20:00 GMT) to try to temporarily resume the first place in Liga at Real Madrid, which stole it from him Sunday evening after his victory at Real Sociedad (2-1).
© 2020 AFP