December 15, 2024, 11:40 AM
December 15, 2024, 11:40 AM
Launched by a streak of eleven consecutive victories unmatched in the present of European football, this Atlético de Madrid also wins the gray games, even when neither Julián Alvarez nor Antoine Griezmann shine in their scheme; rescued from the disappointing 0-0 against Getafe by a magnificent header from Alexander Sorloth from a pass from Nahuel Molina to place himself within reach of the lead, awaiting his next visit to Barcelona.
When Diego Simeone’s eleventh seems most consolidated, the same as against Slovan, there were two substitutes, two footballers who circulate in doubt, the executors of a great goal in the 69th minute and of Getafe’s minimal defeat, which remained in the match whenever it was enough for him to retreat and defend the tie. Afterwards, he didn’t make it 1-1.
A triumph whose value is gold, because he did not play well at any point in the match and emerged victorious from a bad afternoon collectively and in almost all of the most decisive individualities he has, in the transition towards the assault he proposes to the top of the classification. It is already within reach, after Real Madrid’s draw on Saturday in Vallecas.
Atlético lowered its level. Neither as overflowing nor as conclusive nor as intense as on other occasions. But, above all, nothing precise. An essential aspect in football, more than decisive in matches of this type, when facing him, eleven men are waiting in order behind the ball, without the need to take even the slightest risk.
Getafe was very clear about it. His priority was purely defensive. Natural in a setting like the Metropolitano, measured against an Atlético team that has won ten consecutive victories. He endured his first attack, with two failed shots by Samuel Lino, again in the eleven that is so consolidated that Simeone already appears. The same eleven against Slovan. But also ten of the eleven against Valladolid and against Sevilla. It is more than descriptive.
The Brazilian winger has been integrated into it, suddenly and for the moment, to the detriment of Conor Gallagher. Lino is not in its best version. Neither since the beginning of the season nor now, even though his key goal against Sevilla has relaunched him. This Sunday, he failed in his first shot, back in the 12th minute, and hit the air in the 17th, in a good cross from Rodrigo De Paul.
The influence of the Argentine midfielder’s football on the current Atlético is as evident as it is beneficial. Many of the centers that create something in the opposing area, that make the opponent doubt, come from his vision and his right foot. Even more noticeable was in the first half this Sunday, in which Julián Alvarez hardly appeared, nor did Griezmann feel comfortable with the ball, nor was Pablo Barrios accurate, nor did Marcos Llorente go up as usual.
Getafe hardly suffered. It is an achievement lately in the Metropolitan. It’s true that he didn’t even get close to the other area, with just a header from Nyom and some shots without a finisher, but his goal was something else. The clean sheet gave him options. He held her at intermission. He also played with the stopwatch from the first moment.
Still, it gave Atlético to create a few other opportunities. One from Rodrigo de Paul, outside. Another from Giuliano, also out with a header from the center of an active Galán. And one more from Julián Alvarez, whose first real connection with Griezmann corresponded to the 40th minute. His right-footed shot was too weak, easy for the almost unprecedented David Soria.
Simeone made decisions. The first, at half-time, was the entrance of Sorloth. Then, Correa and Molina. Without touching either Griezmann, the entire crash failed, or Julián Alvarez. Atlético’s offensive commitment, which increased the pressure, which finished off through Barrios and which began the race against the stopwatch and against the traffic through which the duel moved, with the scare that a center from Juan Iglesias and the corner entailed immediately after.
He did not like anything that Simeone saw, who, in the absence of a game, with no more chances, suddenly with the development of the clash transferred to Atlético’s field by Getafe, he sought the encouragement of the stands towards his team with fuss, turned towards the stands and the south end, apart from going back in his movements: he removed Griezmann and put Koke on. Descriptive.
Because then the match was moving on the edge of the uncertainty that worried Simeone so much, nervous, still without a solution with the changes, and that, at the same time, gave real options to Getafe, capable of standing more and better on the field contrary. Uche’s header backwards, over Oblak’s goal, increased the alert.
But this Atlético also has resources on a bad afternoon. One is Sorloth, who, among the doubts, already has seven goals. Another is Molina, who always circulates within the unpredictable. The two, coming off the bench this Sunday, connected with the victory. The center, very good, was from the Argentine. The header, splendid, crossed, not easy, was from the Norwegian.
The goal, in the 69th minute, was from Atlético. Simeone celebrated it, euphoric, relieved with a 1-0 and a victory that is worth gold, which puts him second in the classification and in percentages of leader, when just a month ago he could see the top of the table at ten points. He still shook with a free kick thrown high by Milla. Won. And he wants more.
