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Football – After Barça, Atlético is caught up in Valencia

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Despite an Antoine Griezmann who regains his level, Atlético fell in the last minutes against Valencia. Real Sociedad remain at the top of the table.

Antoine Griezmann ball in the middle of the pressing of the players of Valencia.

AFP

Like FC Barcelona the day before in Vigo (3-3), Atlético Madrid, who led 3-1, was caught by Valencia (3-3) on Sunday at Mestalla for the 13th day of La Liga, and temporarily stagnated in 4th place, five points behind the leader, Real Sociedad (28 points), winner in Pamplona Osasuna 2-0.

The crazy scenario repeated itself! After the crazy turnaround experienced by Barça the day before in Vigo, the Colchoneros experienced a similar failure Sunday in Valencia, four days after being swept 2-0 at Anfield by Liverpool in the Champions League.

The Madrilenians opened the scoring thanks to Luis Suarez (35th) but the Valencians equalized on a goal against his side Stefan Savic (51st).

Antoine Griezmann, author of a superb strike from afar (58th), and Sime Vrsaljko (61st) believed to offer the victory to the Colchoneros, but Hugo Duro, entered late in the match, signed a double in stoppage time, converting two millimeter centers (92nd and 96th) to snatch the draw.

Two “lost” points for the reigning Spanish champions, who have long hoped to return to second place.

Griezmann, back to the top

It is the first time in its history that Atlético de Simeone has not won a game where they have scored at least two goals in advance. This made the Argentinian technician furious, who will however be satisfied to have found an Antoine Griezmann at the top of his game before seeing his team sink.

Shortly before the hour of play, “Grizou” nipped the ball in the feet of Hugo Guillamon, then climbed fifty meters alone, before triggering a clear strike from the left from outside the area, coming to lodge in Jasper Cillessen’s skylight.

This is the 5th goal in the last 7 matches played by the French international striker, who has returned to his best level since the end of September, just over two months after leaving Barcelona to return to his former club.

And in the process, Griezmann distilled a clever bell ball for Luis Suarez in the area … which ended up converting into a goal for Sime Vrsaljko, after a mess with the Valencian goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen (61st).

The offensive elements of the “Rojiblancos” once again worked very well together. The Argentinian Rodrigo de Paul shone again in the midfield, as a metronome of the Madrid attacks. He notably distilled the first decisive pass for the Uruguayan “gunslinger” Suarez, who erased Mouctar Diakhaby on his ball catch, before concluding with the inside of the left foot against the post.

The derby for Seville

On the Valencian side, this draw gave hope to José Bordalas’ men, stuck in an endless crisis, but who seem to be starting to get their heads above water (10th, 17 points).

Atlético, in progress in the game but mentally fragile, remains in European places, but moves away from the top of the standings …

Unlike Sevilla FC, winner of the city derby against Betis in the evening (2-0) thanks to a goal from Marcos Acuna and another against his camp Hector Bellerin. Julen Lopetegui’s men remain 3rd, tied with Real Madrid (2nd) and one length behind Real Sociedad.

(AFP)

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