A disservice to LaLiga football, they offer first parts like the one that Atlético and Mallorca displayed this Saturday at the Metropolitano.
So much tactical perfection, particularly in defensive aspects, ruins the possibility of witnessing relevant events. In that period, a good part of the game was concentrated in the center of the field, with few alternatives in both goals.
In some way, that is the watchword of Cholo Simeone’s football, a formula that requires sacrifice and order, and a shrinking of spaces that suffocates any opponent.
There was more joy in the stands, with the Colchonera parish singing without fainting, than on the field of play: it took Atleti 47 minutes to reach Rajkovic’s goal. Morata did it, through a header that warned the visitors, who were in need in the table, since they are in the lower zone. Morata’s drive enhanced the show, which was shifting towards the mattress side, driven by Samu Lino, the man who added a touch of imagination.
An abyss opens between the game played by Atlético and, to cite someone else, the spectacle that the leader Girona offers us, fresh air for football in our country. There is an aesthetic abyss, not a statistical one: having one game less, and waiting for Girona-Athletic this Monday, there are barely three points between them. Barça, with one more game, has already been hunted.
It took Morata seven minutes to squeeze another action from Samu Lino, but he shot low and wide and the ball went wide, just like a third attempt in the 56th minute, a long shot.
Morata’s weight grew as the match progressed and Mallorca shrank, increasingly deprived of the ball, although it was Griezmann, as willful as he was always uncomfortable, who would end up connecting with a shot that dislocated Rajkovic and ruined Mallorca.
At the same time, Atleti, immense when playing at home (they haven’t lost in the League since January), remain in the leading group.
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Azpilicueta (Giménez, d. 82), Witsel, Hermoso, Lino (Saúl, d. 71); Barrios, Koke (De Paul, d. 64), Griezmann; Correa (Riquelme, d. 64) and Morata (Memphis, d. 82).
Mallorca: Rajkovic; Gio Gonzalez, Nastasic, Valjent, Copete (Javo Llabres, m. 82), Lato (Maffeo, m. 82); Antonio Sanchez (Mascarell, m. 62), Samu Costa, Sergi Darder, Dani Rodriguez (Amath, m. 74); and Abdon Prats (Larin, m. 62).
Gol: 1-0, m. 64: Griezmann.
Referee: Martinez Munuera (C. Valenciano).
Incidents: match corresponding to the fourteenth day of LaLiga EA Sports played at the Cívitas Metropolitano stadium in front of 58,119 spectators.
