• Chronicle.Vitolo returns good humor to Atlético

Vitolo escaped from the field by the opposite band in which Lemar was waiting and on the way to the bench he was receiving flowers and applause from the stands. Morata, with a goal in his pocket for the sixth consecutive game (two in the Champions League), retired for his place to give warmth and good vibes to Diego Costa. And Correa, at the last minute, collided his hands with Llorente after taking a good farewell dip in the heat of his people. Because in Atlético there is a second version of the trident, unpublished before the match against Espanyol, which proved to be well oiled, ready for future battles. Already after the break of selections, of course. By then, Joao Felix will be ready and Diego Costa may knock on Simeone's door again. But they, Vitolo-Morata-Correa, are now the most reliable trio.

Between the three they broke down the door of Espanyol. Two goals and two assists. Costa and Koke, already without them on the grass, invented the sentence. Although they had been the ones who had managed to get there. "I love this club, I owe my life for my heart operation. I will always be grateful and I hope things go well for the good of all," summed up Angel Correa , who has become the ideal partner for speed and unchecking. from Morata. The Argentine, packed in summer towards Milan and, at the same time, eager to find a destination where to stop being a footballer for moments, has uncovered in these last two weeks with three assists (two to Morata) and a goal, given away by the Madrid striker. Both understand each other perfectly. The absence of Joao Félix and the crisis of Diego Costa , which Simeone has tried to recover without success, have made him indispensable: starter in the last six games.

From Vitolo there has been hardly any news since the derby, in the twilight of September. An injury (left thigh) returned him out of focus, after breaking with goals (2) and play at the start of the season. He retired with a problem in the thigh during the break against Real Madrid , reappeared a quarter of an hour against Athletic and did not step on the green until last Wednesday in Leverkusen. His entry, unit to the numerical superiority of Atlético at the end, gave the team another air. From the first minute against Espanyol, he appeared with ideas, speed and verticality through the Diego López area . Everyone noticed and, of course, everyone thanked him.

"When he is physically well, he generates a lot of danger, injuries have to help him a lot more, which are often the ones that take him away and not me," said Simeone, who went out of his way in the summer of 2017 to change Seville to Madrid. In total, Vitolo has been down 116 days and has lost 17 games . However, injuries have always come when he showed his best face. As happened a few days before the final of the Europa League 2018 or after conquering the European Super Cup, that same year, with special prominence. "When he plays at this level he is always competitive. He gave us a lot with his game between the lines," Simeone continued praising him. At his command, he has played 62 games where he has signed six goals and six assists. The last one, to Morata, in front of Espanyol.

The fight of Herrera

The third tip of the fork is Álvaro Morata . The '9' without discussion of Atletico, which has taken off like a rocket from that redeeming header at home against Bayer Leverkusen. Since that night there has been no match in which he has not scored. Six goals in the last six duels (two in Champions). A perfect streak in which, too, he has forgiven some good opportunities. Before Espanyol, after a shipment to Vitolo's career, he didn't find a way to beat Diego López and open the scoring.

"We are a compact block, we are not affected by the things they say about us," he said radiantly, before leaving again with the Spanish team after two calls away. The first by injury and the last by technical decision. "We know what we have to do and that is what will take us far this year," he completed. A third of the goals of his team in LaLiga (5) bear his signature and that is why Atlético remains within a shot of the head.

In this new good mood of Atlético also had a good share of screen Héctor Herrera . He played his first full league game and lifted to the stands with his physical display. A lung for a spinal cord that came longing for touch-ups. "I come from playing another totally different system. Here there is a very clear and very strong defensive rigor and that is what has cost me the most: being defensively as orderly as the coach asks," the former Porto captain admitted. The logical thing is that against Granada repeat at eleven since Thomas and Saul , who returned to the left side, saw the yellow against Espanyol. Of course, both will be ready for the vital duel at home against Barcelona (December 1).

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