Llorente and Barrios decide Atlético’s pass to the round of 16

Two goals, from Marcos Llorente, a starter at Carlos Tartiere as inside right, and from Pablo Barrios, who is going through a very sweet moment, were enough for Atlético to defeat Oviedo and seal their qualification for the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, the only table of salvation for the rojiblancos this season. Llorente was called to be a substitute in the round of 32, but Diego Pablo Simeone opted for Nahuel Molina on the right side, leaving the young Barrios on the bench and allowing the former Real Madrid player to act in the position in which he performs best, to open the way for the victory in Asturian territory. Precisely, Pablo Barrios would leave at game time and, now that the youth player who promises so much is allied with the goal, he would be in charge of sentencing Oviedo.

It was a great pass from Antoine Griezmann culminating in a successful singlet by Llorente that allowed the rojiblancos, after a start of doubts, to recover their calm and then put more than one foot into the round of 16 before half an hour. Oviedo stood up, competed, as their coach, Álvaro Cervera, wanted, but had to surrender to the superiority, efficiency and trade of Atlético, who buried the locals in the final stretch in another play in which Griezmann also participated, who exhibited New talent and class in a team that, unlike in Europe and in the League, is again reliable in the Cup, although it must continue to improve to aspire to the only title it has left this year.

With a defense with three central defenders, although they again offered a worrying weakness at the back, especially from set pieces, Atlético did not fail in the third round against a ‘second’ more concerned about the League than the Cup, although this did not prevent the carballones starred in a highly contested game, although without punching in attack. Oviedo’s top scorer, Borja Bastón, precisely an Atlético youth squad, did not come out until the second half, when Atlético had already taken the lead, and then the colchoneros decided after the break to back down and maintain their slim advantage.

Oviedo did not stop trying, but the rojiblancos used solidity and experience to not allow any more scares in defense and took advantage of an isolated opportunity in the second half. Atlético did not miss the injured Joao Félix, nor De Paul or Savic, in a clash in which the rojiblancos alternated phases of absolute dominance with others of submission, almost completely in the second half, against the spirited Oviedo, who exhibited direct play without a goal. Atlético did have it, although they were also able to concede a goal in the first half due to their defensive disconnections.