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From above and from set pieces, Athletic delved into the defensive, game and results crisis that has Atlético immersed in a galloping crisis.
Marcelino's team had faith to overcome João Félix's goal.
He knew how to smell the blood in the soft red and white defense.
If this Atlético de Simeone is unrecognizable, it is among other things because of that lack of solidity and forcefulness in their own area.
The offensive ineffectiveness with which he manages has been common in other seasons, but this chronic defensive weakness had never appeared in the ten years of the Argentine coach on the rojiblanco bench.
Athletic was the fair winner, more determined to break a close duel despite its hectic start.
ATM Athletic
one
Oblak, Mario Hermoso, Vrsaljko, Giménez, Lemar (Matheus Cunha, min. 84), Koke (Héctor Herrera, min. 83), Kondogbia (De Paul, min. 50), Marcos Llorente (Renan Augusto, min. 45), Carrasco, João Félix and Correa (Luis Suárez, min. 70)
ATH-Athletic
two
Unai Simón, Íñigo Martínez, De Marcos, Balenziaga (Yuri, min. 74), Yeray, Oier Zarraga (Vesga, min. 69), Dani García, Berenguer (Nico Williams, min. 69), Muniain, O. Sancet (Raúl Garcia, minute 69) and Williams
Goals
1-0 min.
61: Unai Simon (pp).
1-1 min.
76: Yeray.
1-2 minutes
80: Nico Williams.
Referee
Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez
Yellow cards Íñigo Martínez (min. 82), Vesga (min. 89), Williams (min. 90) and Vrsaljko (min. 90)
Red cards Giménez (min. 93)
The game got up early with vertigo. With the two teams more willing to exhibit power in transitions than the defensive rigor that their coaches try to impose. In less than five minutes João Félix had a goal annulled for offside, the Portuguese turned a free shot into a rugby test, Correa crashed a ball into the side of the net and Atlético claimed Berenguer's penalty on Lemar. Athletic was not left short in that back-and-forth football. Sancet planted Iñaki Williams against Oblak with a lob over the red-and-white defense and also claimed a penalty for stomping and pushing Kondogbia.
That frenetic start was shaped by two teams willing to impose more for talent and speed than for the severity of the boards. When she entered the scene, the duel withered. Simeone and Marcelino must have been scared by so much frenzy. Atlético and Athletic became fearful. They backed down and committed themselves to more professional defensive tasks. One and the other team showed the defect that weighs them down. They have a hard time attacking while stationary. Atlético was involved in circulations that neither Kondogbia nor Koke could accelerate, when they did not overlap on the same plane. In Athletic, Berenguer and Sancet disappeared, Iñaki Williams no longer saw spaces to run and Muniain could not find partners for his sharp intentions. Rest was reached in the reserved nothingness.A game that was born fast and frenetic was diluted to become a close duel.
Atlético left the locker room without Marcos Llorente, replaced by Lodi. Simeone did not change the drawing of the three central defenders and two lane players despite the fact that the Brazilian has not yet settled in that position. Marcelino also held his Cartesian 4-4-2. The revolutions were also high at the start of the second act, although without the dynamite of the first minutes of the meeting. Due to Kondogbia's injury, Simeone was forced to make his second change. De Paul entered, who gave the rojiblancos a certain presence. However, there were no threatening plays in the areas. The goals could only appear as they usually do in games with so many shackles and so little subtlety with the ball. Corner kicks were the panacea. João Félix caught one past gloved by Lemar. The cross header, but meek, did not succeed in clearing it Yeray,he touched the base of the post and entered after bouncing off Unai Simón's back. A stroke of fortune, to which Athletic did not take long to respond. First with a header from Íñigo Martínez in a lateral free kick that Oblak pocketed. The action already revealed the vulnerability of Atlético in this kind of plays that have become a cross so far this season. Williams also challenged the Slovenian keeper by putting together a quick, hard shot. Marcelino had already made a move, giving entry to Vesga, Nico Williams and Raúl García. The youngster of the Williams also met Oblak's hand in a hard shot, although it was off the mark. It would be Yeray, in a precise corner executed by Muniain, who hooked a forceful header that Lemar and Lodi did not know how to defend.to which Athletic did not take long to respond. First with a header from Íñigo Martínez in a lateral free kick that Oblak bagged. The action already revealed the vulnerability of Atlético in this kind of plays that have become a cross so far this season. Williams also challenged the Slovenian keeper by putting together a quick, hard shot. Marcelino had already made a move, giving entry to Vesga, Nico Williams and Raúl García. The youngster of the Williams also met Oblak's hand in a hard shot, although it was off the mark. It would be Yeray, in a precise corner executed by Muniain, who hooked a forceful header that Lemar and Lodi did not know how to defend.to which Athletic did not take long to respond. First with a header from Íñigo Martínez in a lateral free kick that Oblak bagged. The action already revealed the vulnerability of Atlético in this kind of plays that have become a cross so far this season. Williams also challenged the Slovenian keeper by putting together a quick, hard shot. Marcelino had already made a move, giving entry to Vesga, Nico Williams and Raúl García. The youngster of the Williams also met Oblak's hand in a hard shot, although it was off the mark. It would be Yeray, in a precise corner executed by Muniain, who hooked a forceful header that Lemar and Lodi did not know how to defend.The action already revealed the vulnerability of Atlético in this kind of plays that have become a cross so far this season. Williams also challenged the Slovenian keeper by putting together a quick, hard shot. Marcelino had already made a move, giving entry to Vesga, Nico Williams and Raúl García. The youngster of the Williams also met Oblak's hand in a hard shot, although it was off the mark. It would be Yeray, in a precise corner executed by Muniain, who hooked a forceful header that Lemar and Lodi did not know how to defend.The action already revealed the vulnerability of Atlético in this kind of plays that have become a cross so far this season. Williams also challenged the Slovenian keeper by putting together a quick, hard shot. Marcelino had already made a move, giving entry to Vesga, Nico Williams and Raúl García. The youngster of the Williams also met Oblak's hand in a hard shot, although it was off the mark. It would be Yeray, in a precise corner executed by Muniain, who hooked a forceful header that Lemar and Lodi did not know how to defend.It would be Yeray, in a precise corner executed by Muniain, who hooked a forceful header that Lemar and Lodi did not know how to defend.It would be Yeray, in a precise corner executed by Muniain, who hooked a forceful header that Lemar and Lodi did not know how to defend.
With the draw and a little over a quarter of an hour to play, Athletic seemed to be clear that they could get oil from the crosses into the area.
Another corner cleanly finished off again by Íñigo Martínez bounced off an Athletic player.
The ball fell to Nico Williams, who pocketed it with a subtle touch to the corner.
In less than five minutes, Athletic sent the League champion to the canvas, who is bleeding for not mastering what was previously a pure routine.
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