Atlético is rock and roll, the rough stages of the League, there where almost everyone falls and suffers, they redeem themselves.
The Benito Villamarín, where everything was Betis triumphs, was conquered by two sparks of magic from
Antoine Griezmann
and a good portion of agony on the finish line, where
Fekir 's great goal and an
Alex Moreno
header to
the crossbar were about to achieve the tie in extremis for the team of a
Manuel Pellegrini
who still does not know what it is to beat
Simeone
.
[1-2: Narration and statistics]
It was not just any afternoon for two opponents in the midst of a bid to follow in the footsteps of Real Madrid and Barça, for those Champions League positions that they honor so much.
Two styles face to face as well, two ways of understanding the same sport.
And the seasoned Atlético triumphed again, in a frenetic second half, because this time he knew how to manage his advantage better -although fortune was also on his side- and because Betis, who missed
Canales
, reacted too late.
Atlético gave the impression of being comfortable at the Villamarín, where the sun's rays filtered in on the autumn afternoon.
The script for the game suited 'cholismo' like a glove, the one on which
Ancelotti
spoke positively during the week.
A rival eager to take the initiative, a launched Betis -more at home, where each victory duel counted- against which to hide, without greater burdens than waiting for a loophole for the blow.
Simeone's men crowded in front of
Oblak
, back after his coup in San Mamés, and nothing happened.
the VAR
But it did happen.
That the local momentum, the joy of dawn, was barely extinguished by that almighty couple formed by
Kondogbia and Witsel
in the center.
With their control of the situation, as if they were at the controls of the table football, Atlético took a timid step forward, more self-confident although without enough fang to disturb
Rui Silva
.
Luis Felipe
's muscle injury didn't help Betis either
, like a jug of cold water.
But soon he took the reins again and in that section his most dangerous arrivals came curiously: a shot over the crossbar by Luiz Henrique from the heart of the area, another by
Borja
crossed and a foul by
Guardado
, all without too many problems for Oblak.
The first part was a null fight, but Atlético found themselves with a good scare on the way back.
The infallible
Reinildo
, the guy without rest, made a serious mistake in a clearance.
Rodri
masterfully put it first to Panda's run, who in his cut enabled Luis Henrique's left-footed shot.
Only the VAR frustrated Betis's goal, by millimeters the offside at the origin.
And, after a warning from
Correa
, in the corner to which
Víctor Ruiz
had sent his shot, came one of those geniuses that shatters any approach, one of those that pay tickets.
Griezmann's Olympic goal.
A shot so closed that it dodged obstacles until it slipped into the Betis goal.
It didn't seem to touch
Saúl
at the near post and
Pezzella
ended up pushing what was inevitable.
The two consecutive setbacks, the non-goal of their own and that of others without respite, ended up destroying the serenity of Betis.
Everything was already precipitation and mistakes in search of a comeback.
And that desire was his cross when Correa,
Cunha
and Griezmann began to play on the front.
The subtle pass from the Brazilian left the Frenchman hand in hand, who resolved under the legs of Rui Silva.
It was difficult for Betis to react after the punch to the chin that was the second goal.
Joao Felix and Carrasco
entered to give air to the red and white exits, in anticipation of the Betic pressure.
That came with a shot from
Juan Cruz
, just at the far post.
And with Fekir's direct free kick -he was returning after injury-, a left-footed shot to Oblak's post.
In the throes of 90, Alex Moreno, again completely alone at the far post, sent his header to the crossbar and Joao Felix was about to sentence in 92.
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