Narration This is how we live the match
There is a nuance between living and resisting.
You live with rhythmic heartbeats, accelerated in the face of stimuli that strengthen the stands in a faith that is irrational by definition.
It resists when, despite the lack of hope, one holds each breath as if it were the last and pushes.
Atlético resisted against a Valencia that was living again.
Cholo needed to delve into the bottom of the bench and rescue Griezmann so that he could score in 111 seconds.
[Narration and stats: 0-1]
The French saved a team that was dwarfed for many minutes, which suffered despite the eleven of many carats and against a Valencia that showed more intention and even more skill.
So much so that he did not even feel uneasy with the decisions of Cuadra Fernández and the VAR that taught a whole lesson on why arbitration decisions need constant translation.
Gattuso dared to think of being the Simeone of Valencia, the coach who would unleash the strength of a team that hid timorous behind a simple appearance.
If in the band he can be a bundle of nerves in communion with the stands, in his proposal the Italian won the game until he endured the quality of his squad.
With a patched-up defense and the best striker, Cavani, in the box, launched his team to attack titans without asking for permission or forgiveness.
Castillejo and Thierry were in charge of widening the hole that between Saúl and Reinildo left open in the band that awaits Reguilón and Valencia was pushing an Atlético without a compass that neither had the ball nor could run.
Joao and Morata, despite having Diakhaby and Cömert as rivals, had a hard time testing Mamardashvili.
Before that came a shot from Yunus that surprised Oblak but the VAR annulled Félix due to a previous foul by Diakahaby.
It was the first slap on the wrist for Cuadra Fernández.
With Mestalla delivered to the fuss of his coach, Atlético woke up to put together the two best plays that the Georgian goalkeeper saved hand in hand with Morata and Joao Félix.
But the rojiblancos continued without feeling comfortable, corseted and forced by a Valencia more enthusiastic than effective.
Castillejo's overflow and Lino's attempts did not find in Marcos André, with one foot outside the club, the perfect finisher.
That was in the stands.
The awakening of Atlético was cut short again by VAR.
He expelled Cuadra Thierry for knocking Morata down when he was heading for goal, but the video referee's call made him rectify and turn the red into yellow.
The international was still able to catch a pass from Joao in touch of outburst but the figure of Mamardashvili appeared again.
Atlético's luck changed around the corner from the locker room.
The bottom of the bench gave Cholo the opportunity to shake off the sticky match with Carrasco, with offers on the table, and, above all, Lemar and Griezmann.
The first ball they touched was a goal.
One stole and the other, with Soler's help, sent it into the net, scoring a notch above his favorite victim.
The locals tried to stay on their feet, pressing Atlético to the edge of the area, but guided by everything that Gattuso has, which is not much: the volunteer Foulquier, the talent of Nico and Maxi so that he could see with his last minutes.
That and a handful of homegrown players under construction.
With Cunha and Correa added to the battle, the figure of Mamardashvili had to emerge again in the goal to get a shot from Carrasco and another attempt by Griezmann to fatten up a marker that fell on the rojiblanco side, but that does not completely cover some embarrassments .
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