• Classification This is the League

It could well have been a thrashing according to this runaway, feverish Atletico. And it ended up being a good scare in the Metropolitano, just as happy with his team, a permanent party, who would have said it. The fortune that comes and goes. He dodged Simeone's team for a long time, with an own goal, two balls to the post, a thousand chances that did not materialize by millimeters ... And he ended up smiling almost in the discount, when a clear penalty from Giménez by hand went to limbo for an offside that came out like a rabbit from a VAR hat. There was the tie of an Almeria that, for more than an hour, could not dream of anything other than avoiding derision. [2-1: Narration and statistics]

But the fearful Atletico of the end of 2022 is now pure fun, not an inconvenience startles him, there are no pupae that are worthwhile. From the splendid spring afternoon at the Metropolitano against Almeria he left anxious for the next appointment, which will really measure the strength acquired by Simeone's team in this final stretch of the course, nothing less than on Sunday at the Camp Nou, before a leader, yes, unattainable already: even winning, he would leave Barcelona at 10 points.

The World Cup catharsis must be studied thoroughly, how a group of players can go from everything to nothing, from absolute depression, from expulsion from Europe, to an amazing streak. They are 13 games without losing, six consecutive victories, the encouragement on the second place of Real Madrid, although it is only played "from Saturday to Saturday". Almeria, which borders the relegation places, which is the worst visitor of the championship, paid for the athletic frenzy. Within four minutes he had already conceded the first one. During the first half hour he suffered a siege. And when fortune smiled on him for the equaliser, he soon got another blow from Griezmann. Always Griezmann, the paradigm of excellence.

Rabona de Correa

Atlético lately even the casualties give him a little equal. Savic fell in Turkey's friendly and Memphis is not ready yet. Not a doubt in one of the most powerful starts of the season. The prize of the goal after a corner kicked by Carrasco and combed by Correa in the first post was the spring that spurred even more to the rojiblancos, with the dominance of Koke and De Paul in the middle and the permanent arrivals of Carrasco, a demon, Llorente ... Griezmann had it in a rejection in the small area, Koke of a frontal shot and Correa after a genius, a rabona that was about to overturn the Metropolitano.

But in full euphoria and without the second materializing, despite the numerous occasions, the jug of cold water arrived, a tie in which Baptistao, in his pass to nowhere, allied himself with luck: he hit Giménez and poisoned himself to the bottom of Oblak's net. Instead of lamenting, Atletico was going to tie in less than 10 minutes. Again Griezmann after a great combination that not even the VAR was able to cancel.

Atletico's return after the break was even better. In 15 minutes he could well have scored four, five, six goals, but Fernando became a hero to the despair of Metropolitano and Cholo. The goalkeeper of Almeria and, again, luck. And the lack of aim. Griezmann had three very clear, including a shot to the post, Llorente, Correa and again Carrasco to the wood. Díez de Mera did not point a hand inside the area: the mattresses accumulate 32 days without being whistled a penalty.

Speed, pressure, mobility, depth... All that rained to Almeria that was a broken toy but that, nevertheless, was not sentenced. And, as in Vallecas a few days ago, the lesson of the lack of forgiveness was about to play a trick on Atletico. Ruby's changes took effect, especially the entry of Ramazani, the local dominance was diluted and the runrunun arrived. In one of the balls that now passed through Oblak's area, Giménez stuck out his arm without much sense – like Llorente's yellow that will make him miss the Camp Nou game. The VAR, now, seemed willing to whistle the penalty that denies Atletico... but Portillo was offside. Sighs.

  • Almeria

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