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A sober Athletic, with the match it had to play well screwed, took the first round of the cup semi-final against an Atlético that found few loopholes.
Valverde emerged winner of his duel with Simeone.
In stoppage time, the VAR annulled a penalty committed by Yerai on Morata that could have established a tie that would have done justice to the local push in the second half.
The rent is short and San Mamés will decide.
Atlético is obliged to the epic in a scenario that will be as inflamed as the Metropolitano last night.
ATMAthletic
0
Oblak, Reinildo Mandava (Mario Hermoso, min. 45), Witsel, Savic, De Paul, Nahuel Molina (Marcos Llorente, min. 57), Samuel Lino (Rodrigo Riquelme, min. 83), Pablo Barrios Rivas (Correa, min. 73), Koke, Depay (Morata, min. 57) and Griezmann
ATH Athletic
1
Julen Agirrezabala, Daniel Vivian, Yuri, Aitor Paredes, Lekue, Williams (Yeray, min. 84), O. Sancet (Unai Gómez, min. 52), Benat Prados (Ander Herrera, min. 60), Ruiz de Galarreta, Berenguer (Vesga, min. 84) and Guruzeta (Villalibre, min. 52)
Goals
0-1 min.
24: Berenguer.
Referee
Alejandro José Hernández Hernández
Yellow cards Reinildo Mandava (min. 22), Benat Prados (min. 37), Daniel Vivian (min. 47), Simeone (min. 64), Unai Gómez (min. 71), Valverde (min. 75), De Paul (min. 82) and Ruiz de Galarreta (min. 97)
There was a lot of expectation to see how the two coaches resolved their lineups.
Simeone had to make tough decisions.
He sat down Hermoso and Morata, two of the footballers who have offered him the greatest performance so far this year.
The first place was occupied by the impressive Reinildo, who had returned full of joy after almost a year out due to the serious knee injury he suffered.
The loss he generated by risking more than necessary in the area and the immediate penalty he committed took down the anti-Williams banner with which he had entered the game.
Morata was stopped from playing Memphis.
The team's top scorer with 19 goals, thanks to the Dutchman's scoring streak.
Also because of Simeone's firm conviction that he is more associative.
Berenguer scores the goal from a penalty that would give Athletic the victory. Moeh Aitar
More information
Berenguer breaks a disastrous streak at the Metropolitano
The focus in Valverde's lineup was on Nico Williams, whose step forward this season has to do with increasing his status as a decisive footballer.
He didn't even enter the call.
Berenguer was the Extremadura coach's choice.
The two coaches had announced a long game, but it began with the rhythm and salt and pepper of a cup duel.
A few seconds later, Lino was rolling on the ground and scratched a lateral foul.
Witsel failed to direct his header well after several rejections.
Athletic experienced firsthand that version of the rojiblancos that devotes itself more than ever to the ball.
It linked several circulations under pressure from area to area.
Athletic did not break down in the face of Atlético's bossy start.
And as soon as he could, he showed his fang.
His first bite was a kick from Vivian.
The second was a very feared play.
Sancet beat Koke and ran into a clear field.
He didn't finish the start in a great way, but it made Atlético's knees shake.
There was no drop in revolutions at any time, with both teams very careful not to reveal themselves, but the game did begin to take the form of a long match, more for the midfielders than for the forwards.
The few times that Griezmann and Memphis were able to activate, they met Vivian and Paredes.
The forcefulness and physical exuberance, especially of the former, annulled the couple chosen by Simeone.
Griezmann hits the ball with his head against several opponents.INMA FLORES
Atlético and Athletic did not spare an ounce of sweat to remain solid.
The game ended up taking on that air that only one mistake could undo it.
And Reinildo committed it by doing what he had the least control over.
He first starred in a reckless drive towards Oblak with Iñaki Williams blowing on his neck.
The Mozambican got the ball out as best he could, but it returned to the edge of the area with a filtered pass to Prados.
Out of point, Reinildo threw a hasty tarascada with his heels first.
Penalty and yellow, but the red wouldn't have been out of place either.
Berenguer held on and when Oblak defeated him he hit the opposite side.
Atlético found itself with that first blow and also with a well-established team.
Valverde's team closed the sides of Molina and Lino, assisted by Lekue and Yuri by Berenguer and Williams.
And in the middle, Ruiz de Galarreta, Beñat Prados and Sancet also contributed to order and the union piecework so that neither De Paul, nor Barrios, nor Griezmann, when he was late, broke the siege.
Athletic's midfielders were superb at covering.
Ruiz de Galarreta, with the beauty of his easy and fine football.
With that feeling of not being able to sink his teeth into his rival, Atlético went to half-time.
Simeone revoked the decision to dispense with Hermoso in the booth.
Reinildo's yellow card and the fear that the mistake would affect him condemned the Mozambican.
Willing to equalize the duel, Atlético came out more alive, willing to play on the run.
It did not pay off and Simeone hired Morata and Llorente for Molina and Memphis.
Valverde responded with Villalibre, Sancet and Guruzeta.
Only Lino's skirmishes worried Athletic.
A cross from the Brazilian whistled the post.
Valverde returned to refresh the team with Ander Herrera for an exhausted Prados.
Athletic resisted the last red-and-white rout, with Correa and Riquelme as the last bullet.
Agirrezabala won a one-on-one against Griezmann.
Morata sharply finished off a Lino cross before De Paul had to tackle Williams when he was about to step into the area.
With Vesga and Yeray Valverde he wanted to close the game.
Yerai was about to ruin the plan with that penalty that was later annulled by the VAR.
Agirrezabala clears the ball in a great save.INMA FLORES
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