Atlético defeated Athletic with a goal from Antoine Griezmann in the 75th minute. The goal was the Frenchman’s second in the last ten days, his seventh in the League and helps the colchoneros to consolidate fourth position and get closer to third held by the Royal Society.
The match at the Metropolitano was competitive and with few chances and had the particularity of being the team from Bilbao who wore the red and white shirt, awarded by Atlético to the lions for their 125th anniversary.
It was also a special date for Diego Simeone, who had completed 424 coaches in the First Division with the same team, a record that dated back 49 years and that only Miguel Muñoz had achieved in one club, in this case with Real Madrid.
Athletic deployed energetically and went on the attack at all times. Atlético was supported by its defensive firmness, in which Reinildo stood out, very fast, especially in cuts. In Ernesto Valverde’s men, the novelty was in the goal, where the young Julen Agirrezabala sent the international Unai Simón to the bench.
The clearest chance of the first half came near the end in a cross from Ángel Correa that left Carrasco one on one against Agirrezabala, who covered the shot with his foot.
The second half began with two great saves, the first again with the same protagonists, a shot from Carrasco and a good intervention by the young Basque goalkeeper. Immediately it was Oblak’s turn to avoid Nico Williams’s goal.
With half an hour to go, Morata and Barrios entered for Correa and De Paul. Then Memphis Depay entered and it was decisive because a wall from the Dutchman with Griezmann was worth it to break the defensive line of the lions. The Frenchman went for speed and scored from a tight shot. The goal was worth the three points. Raúl García, Paredes and Berenguer entered the last stretch, but Atlético defended with order and their victory was no longer in jeopardy.
