With his sights set on the first leg of the round of 16 of the
Champions League
against Inter in Milan,
Diego Simeone
proposed a team with several absences to receive Las Palmas, for the 25th date of the
Spanish League
, but with a talisman : Argentine
Ángel Correa
, author of two goals and an assist in the 5-0 win at the Metropolitano.
The successes of the world champion on the net when Aleti plays the local tournament already total 53 games with this Saturday, which increased his team's undefeated streak when he converted it to 45 wins and 8 draws.
In fact, on the sunny day in Madrid, Correa could have scored a hat trick had it not been for his generosity to make it 2-0 partial, 20 minutes into the second half.
The thing is that the man from Rosario pressed well up high and stole the ball and then gave it to
Marcos Llorente
, his partner in attack, who again punished goalkeeper Álvaro Valles like five minutes before in his first goal after a series of rebounds.
ANGEL STEALED, ARMED HER AND LLORENTE GOT IT IN!
Correa pressed well from the top and generously served it to the midfielder for Atlético de Madrid's partial 2-0 victory in #LaLiga.
pic.twitter.com/ltkbSbJ7bo
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) February 17, 2024
Angelito
's goals
finally came in the second half.
The first was a luxury: a great volley definition just after half-time, after a header from Koke.
ANGELITO GOT HIS OWN!
After assisting in the second, Correa put the defense to sleep and hit it with a single shot to finish and make it 3-0 for Atlético de Madrid in #LaLiga.
pic.twitter.com/rsykk0cRUK
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) February 17, 2024
Meanwhile, at 17 minutes he took charge of a penalty that referee Jorge Figueroa sanctioned after consultation with the VAR for a foul by Marvin on Samuel Lino.
Although the Las Palmas goalkeeper guessed the direction of the Argentine's shot, he could do nothing to contain a shot headed into the corner.
ANGEL DOUBLE!
Correa took charge of the penalty and with a nice shot he sealed his second goal of the afternoon and Atlético de Madrid's 4-0 win over Las Palmas in #LaLiga.
pic.twitter.com/9zr389MdY0
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) February 17, 2024
With the game decided, Cholo Simeone sent several of his stars to the field - except Hermoso and Griezmann - and Memphis Depay three minutes from the end sentenced the win and certified the perfect plan of the Argentine coach waiting for the end of February hellish, with visits to Milan and San Mamés with the Champions League and the Copa del Rey at stake
Las Palmas was no rival, which was shipwrecked with many of its supporters in the Metropolitano's stands and took a small step back in its aspirations to reach European positions.
Pimienta's team forgave a lot in defense and succumbed to Atlético's high pressure.
In 20 minutes the duel was over.
The Atlético fans, present in the stadium despite the hour, celebrated it.
61,196 spectators changed the game for lunch and went home satisfied after seeing a two-game winless streak in the League come to an end.
Also Cholo, who believed that unit B was enough to leave the three points at home and he was right.
The field recognized it after the final whistle.
The coach is in everything.
On Tuesday he will need the A team.