Atlético’s headlines impose themselves without much fanfare on Almazán

The rojiblanco team arrived with many doubts at the new Los Pajaritos stadium to play a Cup match that he needed to cling to so as not to worsen a season that has gone awry in November with the cruel elimination of European competitions and the league setbacks, which certainly put the competition at a premium. She still has the Copa del Rey and she caught on in Soria, although she will have to improve her performance after the World Cup in Qatar if she wants to progress in the competition.

Simeone has hardly saved anything, from the outset, with a very recognizable eleven and full of internationals, with Griezmann, Correa and Joao Felix as main offensive assets.

Almazán, with a line of five defenders, has withdrawn lines to stop the red and white offensive, which has had its first clear opportunity in a forced shot by Marcos Llorentewhich has ended up hitting the crossbar (min. 8).

Joao Félix wasted a clear opportunity (min. 11) by wanting to cut back and look for his right leg to hit, inside the large area. Koke finished off against the crossbar (min. 12) and a shot by Marcos Llorente, from the front (min. 15) was answered with a stretch by Adnamantino’s goalkeeper.

Atlético de Madrid monopolized possession and circulation of the ball but failed in the center, against an Adnamantine defense with many men and order.

Beautiful, upside down, over the crossbar (m. 21), he also tried it and shortly after (min. 31) another header also went wide.

Atlético de Madrid’s dominance was almost a monologue in terms of initiative, but they couldn’t find room to progress in the final meters in attack, against a rival who was generous in effort in defensive tasks and who he only kept Oedipus on point to comb the attack.

And in minute 34 came the first Atletico goal, after a shot from the edge of Joao Félix and rejection of the goalkeeper who collected Correa in the mouth of the goal. Adnamantine resistance had lasted for more than half an hour.

Correa himself (min. 38) sought to increase his lead from the edge of the box, but it went high.

after the break, did not change the scriptwith two fresh World Cup players like Giménez and De Paúl, by Savic and Marcos Llorente.

Atlético monopolized possession but Almazán stepped on the rojiblanca area when he forced corner kicks and in a backlash that Oedipus could not complete (min. 54), after Griezmann made a mistake in an attacking opening.

The game was alive at this point, which for Almazán was already a victory, against a rival whoe found it too difficult to find gaps in the bands.

And in the 62nd minute the rojiblanca tranquility arrived, with a good combination of Joao Félix up front with De Paul, which the Portuguese finished off with a left footed shot. A spark of quality served to close the tie.

Hermoso (min. 69) tried again with another header, which lacked better direction. A disallowed goal to Griezmann, due to offside, it prevented the rent from increasing.

Almazán tried to stretch but the one who had it was Koke (min. 78) in a good play on the right by the rojiblanco team. The last red-and-white occasion came in discount time, in a shot by Cunha.

In short, Atlético de Madrid delivered at Los Pajaritos, against a rival who fought with pride for making it complicated.