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  • Champions League: Atletico have been wonderful within the 2nd half and Manchester City forgot to play-Pep Guardiola

    Manchester City beat Atletico de Madrid 1-0 on combination to qualify for the UEFA Champions League semi-final for the third time within the membership’s historical past. Pep Guardiola is the one supervisor to succeed in this stage of the competitors 9 occasions in whole, out of which 4 have been with FC Barcelona. Kevin De Bruyne’s purpose within the first leg on the Etihad Stadium was the one purpose over the 2 legs.

    Manchester City have had an intense week because the first leg, as they performed out a 2-2 draw with second positioned Liverpool of their Premier League title decider on the weekend. Man City supervisor Pep Guardiola mentioned after the sport that the crew had plenty of accidents coming into this sport, however they’ll rejoice going into the ultimate 4 of the UEFA Champions League.

    “We are in big trouble. We cannot forget we played three days ago a tough game against Liverpool. We came here, we have a lot of injuries. I don’t know what will happen in the next weeks, but today we are going to celebrate. It is the third time in Manchester City’s history we are in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and it is a big success for us to be there,” Guardiola instructed BT Sport.

    Even although the sport on Wednesday on the Wanda Metropolitano ended goalless, it was very intense, particularly in the direction of the top when issues bought out of hand. To start with, Atleti defender Felipe hit Phil Foden on the top, for which the England worldwide needed to cowl his head with a bandage to cease the bleeding. The referee didn’t give a yellow card regardless of the gamers, and the supervisor insisting on it. He bought booked later, for a late problem on Kevin de Bruyne.

    Atleti sat again within the first half, permitting Man City to have all of the possession, however got here all weapons blazing within the second interval, making an attempt to attain as they wanted a purpose to make all of it sq.. City didn’t get pleasure from their fair proportion of possession within the second half. Pep Guardiola mentioned that his crew forgot to play, praising Diego Simione’s efficiency within the second half.

    ALSO READ| Champions League: Massive brawl unfolds at Wanda Metropolitano as Manchester City scrape previous Atletico Madrid

    “They pushed us a lot, Atletico were excellent in the second half and we forgot to play. We were in big trouble, and they had chances to score. We had one or two clear chances in the first half but in the second half of the second leg they were much better. But at the same time, we defended everything.”

    Pep Guardiola said that his team had to adapt to the pressure created by Atletico Madrid.

    “We needed to adapt. We couldn’t have the ball and we felt the strain. We are within the semi-finals and it’s an unbelievable achievement for our membership.”

    Towards the end of the game, Atletico defender Felipe, who was on a yellow-card, tackled Man City midfielder Phil Foden. In the aftermath, Stefan Savic hit Foden, and pulled Jack Grealish’s hair off, and got himself in the referee’s book. Both teams got involved in a bitter exchange of words, which later turned out to be a heated fight, and Felipe was sent off for his involvement.

    When asked about the referees and what happened towards the end of the game, Guardiola said that he had “nothing to say”. “I do not discuss referees or the opponents both,” he added.

    Manchester City will play Real Madrid within the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League. The first leg will happen on Tuesday, twenty sixth April on the Etihad Stadium. The return leg will likely be within the following week, on Wednesday, May 4th.

    ALSO READ| Premier League: Erik Ten Hag in pole place to turn into subsequent Manchester United supervisor

  • Antoine Griezmann ban lower, accessible to face AC Milan in UEFA Champions League

    Atletico Madrid ahead Antoine Griezmann was cleared to play towards AC Milan within the Champions League when a two-game ban was halved on attraction on Friday.
    UEFA stated its attraction physique upheld Atletico’s request that Griezmann serve solely the necessary one-match ban for his crimson card in a 3-2 loss towards Liverpool final month.
    Griezmann was despatched off in Madrid, after scoring twice, for placing Roberto Firmino’s head with a raised boot whereas stretching for the ball. He missed Atletico’s 2-0 loss within the return sport at Liverpool.
    Atletico hosts Milan on Wednesday in third place within the group, trailing Porto by one level with two rounds left. Last-placed Milan also can nonetheless advance to the knockout rounds.
    Liverpool, which hosts Porto, is already certain to advance as group winner.

  • La Liga: Atletico held at dwelling by Bilbao, Falcao nets in Rayo Vallecano debut

    Ten-man Atlético Madrid was held to a second straight scoreless draw at dwelling on Saturday after its proficient assault was once more stymied by Athletic Bilbao within the Spanish league.
    With Antoine Griezmann becoming a member of Luis Suárez, Ángel Correa, Yannick Carrasco and João Félix, coach Diego Simeone has his deepest effectively of attacking expertise to attract on since taking up the crew a decade in the past.
    But the defensive-minded Argentine has up to now did not get his assault to click on. Atlético was additionally held to 0-0 by Porto at dwelling of their Champions League opener on Wednesday, and Atlético has not scored greater than two objectives in any of its six video games throughout all competitions this season.
    Midfielder Marcos Llorente went closest for Atlético when his Seventy fifth-minute shot from outdoors the world hit the submit.

    Simeone’s ideas on the sport. pic.twitter.com/vPrBBEGEWz
    — Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) September 18, 2021
    Three minutes later, Atlético was left a person down when Félix earned back-to-back yellow playing cards. The referee first booked him for swatting a defender who was clinging to his jersey from behind. Félix, who was not wanting on the participant when his hand impacted his face, obtained a fast second reserving when he vehemently protested.
    Bilbao virtually took benefit of the numerical superiority, however substitute Asier Villalibre wasted an ideal alternative to seize an injury-time winner when he shot excessive with solely goalkeeper Jan Olbak to beat from shut.
    The Basque Country membership and Atlético each remained undefeated by way of 5 rounds.
    FALCAO’S DEBUT
    Former Atlético star Radamel Falcao loved an ideal debut for Rayo Vallecano, scoring 10 minutes after occurring as a late substitute to finish a 3-0 win over Getafe in a derby between the Spanish capital’s two extra modest golf equipment.
    The veteran striker went on as a 71st-minute substitute with Rayo 1-0 forward. Midfielder Pathé Ciss doubled the lead shortly earlier than he arrange Falcao with a go for the Colombian to attain from an angle.

    35-year-old Radamel Falcao scores on his debut for Rayo Vallecano!
    El Tigre is again 🐯 pic.twitter.com/4Rkf3qJDut
    — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 18, 2021
    Oscar Trejo put Rayo forward with a penalty 9 minutes into the match at Vallecas Stadium.
    Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski denied Getafe a late objective when he saved Enes Unal’s penalty.
    Rayo has two wins, a draw, and two defeats in its return to Spain’s high division.
    Getafe is final after shedding all 5 video games.
    The 35-year-old Falcao signed with Rayo this month as a free agent.
    “I had dreamed of being able to go out there and score a goal,” Falcao mentioned. “My teammates have given me a lot of support. I feel right at home.”
    Many Rayo followers recall Falcao’s two seasons with Atlético from 2011-13, when he helped it win the Europa League and the Copa del Rey. He went on to Monaco, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Galatasaray, the place he performed till the tip of final season.

  • Joao Felix undergoes ankle surgical procedure, confirms Atletico Madrid

    Atletico Madrid ahead Joao Felix has undergone surgical procedure on his ankle, the La Liga champion stated on Friday.
    Felix, who value a membership file payment of 126 million euros ($149.02 million), has sustained 4 separate ankle accidents and began lower than half of Atletico’s La Liga video games since becoming a member of from Benfica in 2019.
    His harm issues continued at Euro 2020 as he missed Portugal’s video games in opposition to Germany and France with a muscle drawback earlier than approaching in its place in its 1-0 defeat by Belgium within the final 16.
    Atletico’s assertion stated the 21-year-old was handled by Dutch surgeon Niek van Dijk in Porto below supervision from the membership’s medical doctors however didn’t state when he would return to motion.
    Spanish newspaper Marca stated Atletico was hopeful he may return simply in time for the beginning of the brand new season, which begins on August 15 when Diego Simeone’s facet visits Celta Vigo.

  • In Luis Suarez, Simeone discovered lacking piece to forge a champion

    Practically handed a world-class scorer by certainly one of its high rivals, Atletico Madrid rode the objectives of Luis Suarez burning to show his former staff incorrect and the aggressive all-for-one spirit preached by Diego Simeone to the Spanish league title.
    Here’s how Atletico beat out Real Madrid and Barcelona for its first Liga crown in seven years:
    A PERFECT GIFT
    With Barcelona sunk in mounting debt and coming off a season with out a title, the membership in September advised Suarez _ its third all-time main scorer no much less _ that he wanted to discover a new house.
    After a transfer to Italy fell by means of, Barcelona surprised its followers by promoting Suarez on a budget to Atletico to shed his wage. The switch charge that with add-ons may solely attain 6 million euros ($7 million) was a ludicrously small sum for a participant who had netted 21 objectives for Barcelona within the earlier season.
    The deal proved to be a boon for Simeone. Finally, he had a ruthless finisher in Suarez who, at age 34, has misplaced quickness however maintains his killer intuition when the ball reaches him wherever close to the web. The Uruguay striker scored 21 objectives for his new membership and gave it an intimidating level of assault that additionally opened up area for his teammates.
    That included winners by Suarez in each of Atletico’s remaining two matches of the season the place it was trailing. Suarez’s 88th-minute strike accomplished a 2-1 comeback win over Osasuna within the second-to-last spherical to maintain Atletico in entrance of Madrid. And none was greater than his second-half aim to finish the come-from-behind victory towards Valladolid.
    After the win at Valladolid, Suarez was overcome by an outpouring of emotion that introduced collectively the enjoyment of victory and the satisfaction of getting made Barcelona remorse his exit. After embracing his teammates and coaches, Suarez sat on the turf and made a video name, apparently to his spouse and youngsters, the place he brazenly wept.
    “This has been a hard season for the situation I had to go through, starting the season the way it did, being disrespected (by Barcelona) and having Atletico open its doors to me,” Suarez mentioned, talking by means of his tears after the ultimate whistle. “I will always be thankful to this great club for that. I have been in soccer for many years and I think this has been the most difficult year for me.”
    THE MAN IN BLACK
    Simeone’s endurance, his skill to proceed to interact his gamers and maintain their religion intact after nearly a decade answerable for the membership, is what separates the Argentine from the overwhelming majority of his teaching brethren.
    Since taking on the membership in January 2012, he has by no means wavered from his mantra of going ahead “recreation by recreation,“ a message that by no means lets his gamers develop complacent or lose their concentrate on the match at hand. Nor has Simeone ever been shamed by rivals who criticize his no frills, defense-first enjoying type. While the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium was silent with out followers due to the pandemic, Simeone was nonetheless a drive as he stalked the touchline in his all-black coat and tie.
    But that doesn’t imply that Simeone is totally set in his methods. After years of preferring a 4-4-2 formation, Simeone deployed a 3-5-2 this season to make use of a three-man backline. The centerback trio of Stefan Savic, Filipe Augusto and Mario Hermoso allowed wing backs Renan Lodi and Kieran Trippier push ahead and assist Koke Resureccion’s midfield. Zinedine Zidane and Ronald Koeman additionally used a three-man protection at Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. The distinction was that Atletico did so whereas not conceding extra possibilities. And when attackers did get free, there was Jan Oblak to cease them. The Slovenia goalkeeper anchored a protection that allowed a league-low 25 objectives in 38 video games.
    Simeone grew to become probably the most profitable coach in his membership’s historical past together with his second league title, taking his tally to eight trophies since he remodeled Atletico right into a winner.
    A critical taskmaster day in, day trip, Simeone burst into laughter after the ultimate whistle on Saturday and didn’t lose his big grin afterward. He embraced his household earlier than leaping onto the staff bus as his gamers celebrated to Queen’s “We Are the Champions.”

    GREAT START, GRITTY FINISH
    Atletico had an amazing begin to the season, equaling a membership report within the opening half of the season _ the primary 19 rounds _ with 50 factors. That allowed the red-and-whites to open up double-digit leads over each Madrid and Barcelona. Then got here the letdown, and a bonus that appeared insurmountable shortly dwindled to simply two factors. Atletico dug in and began successful once more, whereas its rivals slipped of their chase. Atletico’s 0-0 draw at Camp Nou earlier this month sunk Barcelona’s probabilities of overtaking them on the wire.
    ROLE PLAYERS
    This was speculated to be Joao Felix’s 12 months to shine, offering youth and playmaking alongside Suarez’s expertise. The 21-year-old Portugal ahead, nonetheless, didn’t sustain his promising begin to the marketing campaign and fell out of Simeone’s beginning 11.
    Simeone turned to the much less flashy however more practical Marcos Llorente, Angel Correa and Yannick Carrasco to assist get the objectives.
    Following his breakout final season when he scored twice in Anfield to assist get rid of Liverpool from the Champions League, Llorente supplied Simeone with a flexible participant who performed as a ahead, a midfielder and a wing again. He chipped in with 12 objectives. Correa added 9 objectives, together with the equalizer towards Valladolid. And when Atletico was stumbling down the stretch, Carrasco, a speedy left-side winger, netted 4 objectives and made 4 assists down the stretch.

  • Atletico set to clinch La Liga title with win and Real Madrid stumble

    With a bit of assist from their hated native rivals, Atlético Madrid can clinch its first La Liga title in seven years on Sunday.
    Atlético leads defending champion Real Madrid by two factors with two matches remaining and can win the title if it beats Osasuna at residence and Madrid fails to win at Athletic Bilbao.

    Things are heating up on the high… 🔥#LiveStandings #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/csE5fBKwsw
    — LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) May 13, 2021
    Any different mixture of outcomes will ship it to the ultimate spherical, and presumably deliver Barcelona again into the combination. Atletico visits Valladolid and Madrid hosts Villarreal on the ultimate weekend. Madrid holds the head-to-head tiebreaker in the event that they end even on factors.
    Atlético protected its lead on Wednesday by beating Real Sociedad 2-1 with objectives from forwards Yannick Carrasco and Ángel Correa. Madrid stored tempo on Thursday with a 4-1 victory at Granada.
    “I didn’t watch Atlético’s game yesterday. Everyone is focused on their own thing,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois mentioned after beating Granada.
    “Atletico feel confident because they’ve won. We have to focus on what we do ourselves and win our games,” Courtois mentioned.
    “There’s another final coming up against Athletic this Sunday and after the game we’ll look at the Atlético result.”
    Before becoming a member of Madrid by way of a stint at Chelsea, Courtois helped Atlético win its final league title in 2014. Since then, Barcelona and Madrid have returned to divvying up the titles between them.

    Midfielder Koke Resurrección and defender José Giménez are the one holdouts from that championship staff seven years in the past. Koke made his five hundredth look for Atlético in opposition to Sociedad.
    “The only thing that matters is the work I have put in all these years and have to keep going,” Koke mentioned about his milestone.
    “(But) I care about the team, not what I achieve individually, and I hope that we can have the perfect finish to the season by winning the league title.”
    The area to win probably the most tightly contested league in years was primarily lowered to 2 after each Barcelona and Sevilla didn’t hold tempo.
    Sevilla was at all times an extended shot, however the staff actually fell out of contact after just one win in its final three video games. It is six factors again, and Atlético holds the tiebreaker over Sevilla.
    But Barcelona had put itself proper within the thick of issues after going 19 matches with out a loss, just for its protection to let it down over the previous month. The staff has conceded seven objectives in its final 4 video games, together with a loss and back-to-back attracts.
    Barcelona’s massively disappointing 3-3 draw in opposition to Levante in a match it led each 2-0 and 3-2 on Tuesday left it 4 factors behind Atlético. The staff, which hosts Celta Vigo on Sunday, would wish each Atlético and Madrid to disintegrate to tug off a exceptional comeback.
    Ronald Koeman’s future as Barcelona may depend upon the result.
    “Coaches are always under scrutiny, but I understand that there are questions (about me) after our second half (against Levante),” Koeman mentioned after the draw.
    “We must keep going. We have to prepare for next season.”
    The large query for Barcelona is that if the Copa del Rey title it received final month might be sufficient to persuade Lionel Messi to remain when his contract expires in a number of weeks.

  • Atletico Madrid loss offers Barcelona probability to go high in Spain

    Needing a win to remain answerable for the Spanish league, Atletico Madrid stumbled once more on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao, giving Barcelona an opportunity to take over the lead.
    Not even the return of Luis Suarez and Joao Felix was sufficient for Diego Simeone’s crew, which might drop to second on Thursday when Barcelona performs eighth-place Granada at dwelling.
    Barcelona put strain on Atletico by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Villarreal earlier Sunday, getting inside two factors of the lead with a recreation in hand. Antoine Griezmann scored each objectives for the Catalan membership.
    Atletico will go to Barcelona in two rounds’ time.
    “We did all we could,” Atletico captain Koke Resurreccion mentioned. “We will keep fighting until the end. We have five matches left and we know that we can win them.”

    Defending champion Real Madrid was held 0-0 towards Real Betis on Saturday but in addition stays in competition. It is in second place, stage on factors with Barcelona and two behind Atletico. Also nonetheless within the title race is Sevilla, which defeated Granada 2-1 to remain solely three factors off the lead.
    Atletico had gained two straight to stay on the high, but it surely couldn’t get well after conceding early at Athletic’s San Mames Stadium. Alex Berenguer opened the scoring for the hosts within the eighth minute.
    Atletico equalized with a header by Stefan Savic off a nook kick within the 77th, however Inigo Martinez’s header within the 86th sealed the victory for Tenth-place Athletic, which hadn’t gained in seven consecutive matches in all competitions. One of its setbacks was dropping towards Barcelona within the Copa del Rey remaining.
    Suarez and Felix returned after nursing accidents for the previous couple of weeks. They got here off the bench early within the second half however couldn’t spark Atletico to victory. Midfielder Thomas Lemar additionally returned from harm.

    GRIEZMANN LEADS BARCA
    Griezmann scored twice within the first half as Barcelona rallied to beat Villarreal and keep near the highest.
    Villarreal, sitting seventh, performed with 10 males from the sixty fifth minute after Manu Trigueros was despatched off with a straight purple card for a harmful sliding sort out on Lionel Messi. Trigueros had his foot up when he hit Messi’s left leg, sliding his cleats on the Argentine’s decrease shin. Messi was in ache and wanted medical consideration however was capable of return.
    The hosts opened the scoring with Samu Chukwueze within the twenty sixth, however Griezmann equalized within the twenty eighth and netted the winner within the thirty fifth.
    Villarreal, which hosts Arsenal within the first leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday, has misplaced three of its final 4 league matches.
    It was Barcelona’s second straight league win since dropping to Madrid within the final clasico of the season.

    GAME ENDS TWICE
    The recreation between Sevilla and Granada ended twice after the referee blew the whistle forward of time on the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in Seville.
    Four minutes of added time had been anticipated however referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea ended the sport after solely three. Granada gamers protested and video evaluation apparently was consulted, confirming that one other minute needed to be performed.
    The referee needed to name the gamers again to the sphere to complete the match. Some had already left for the locker rooms and needed to put again on their sneakers and jerseys earlier than the sport might resume.
    OTHER RESULTS
    Enes Unal scored a objective in every half as Getafe gained 2-0 at Huesca in a match between relegation-threatened groups.
    The end result ended Getafe’s seven-match winless streak. The Madrid membership moved to fifteenth within the standings, 5 factors from the relegation zone.
    Huesca stayed second-to-last, three factors from security.
    In a match between midtable groups, Celta Vigo beat Osasuna 2-1 with objectives from Iago Aspas and Jeison Murillo.

  • ‘Just have one Ferrari’: La Liga garbage money projections of Real, Barcelona, Atletico

    What occurred within the soccer world after Sunday’s large shock was no shock. The fraternity stood united – save for the 12 homeowners that had signed their golf equipment as much as type the European Super League (ESL). Thereon, the backlash from followers wasn’t surprising. Nor was the sight of gamers, present and former, standing up in opposition to the thought. But for La Liga president Javier Tebas, the creation of the controversial competitors itself was no shock.
    “After 20 to 25 years of threats of setting up a new league, a competition outside the football (world as we know it), the threat has come to reality,” he stated at a press convention attended by presidents of 5 different La Liga golf equipment. “Within 48 hours, it’s dissolving.”
    The ESL was introduced on Sunday. By Wednesday, all six groups from the Premier League that had signed up had withdrawn, as had Inter and AC Milan from Italy, and Atletico Madrid from Spain. All that remained from the unique 12, and nonetheless stay, is Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.
    It all stems from the imaginative and prescient of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez – the important thing determine behind the breakaway league – that the ESL will save soccer from the financial losses suffered because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    That argument nevertheless, was shortly rubbished by the 5 presidents current on the assembly on Thursday.

    🎙Javier Tebas [LaLiga president]: “The English and German clubs will never enter this competition so they can’t create what they want to create.”
    “The Super League, as it is, is dead. Let’s be realistic it is dead.”
    [@NizaarKinsella] #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/MxK9SxRkuU
    — RouteOneFootball (@Route1futbol) April 22, 2021
    Need to funds neatly
    Based on information offered on Real Madrid’s web site, they had been anticipating a income of USD 984 million in the course of the 2019-20 season. Once the pandemic struck although, the determine got here down by USD 128 million. Still the membership reported a revenue of USD 378,000. This when their house floor, Santiago Bernabeu, is present process an costly renovation challenge. It simply makes the pandemic pinch a bit extra painful. Real, in accordance with accountancy agency KPMG, had a USD 205 million debt on their books on the finish of final season.
    Villarreal president Fernando Roig argued that groups have to funds correctly.
    “We all do the same things (as the big clubs), but we have tighter budgets. Companies have to adapt to these situations. We do well now because we travel in economy class,” Roig stated. “The salaries paid by these clubs are high, but it shouldn’t be 14 times higher. Instead of having three or four Ferraris, just have one Ferrari.”
    According to enterprise information web site Statista, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid (the three Spanish golf equipment that signed for the ESL) had the best annual participant salaries in Spain within the 2019-20 season – USD 12.28 million, 11.15 million and seven.04 million respectively.
    By comparability, Sevilla, at the moment fourth on the La Liga desk, paid USD 2.5 million. The three groups vying for the 2 Europa League spots, Real Sociedad, Real Betis and Villarreal paid USD 1.6 million, 1.5 million and 1.73 million respectively, in accordance with Statista.
    Overall, in accordance with Deloitte, the 12 ESL golf equipment earned USD 6.61 billion in complete in 2019-20, down from USD 9.89 billion a season earlier.
    Another of the 12 groups that has heavy money owed is Tottenham Hotspur, who’ve not too long ago constructed a brand new stadium. Their debt is USD 827 million, in accordance with KPMG information revealed by Reuters – probably the most for any ESL membership.

    False guarantees
    The main lure for the 12 groups was the promise of a whopping USD 425 million every (Bayern Munich gained USD 155 million for profitable the Champions League final yr). A piece of this cash, it was anticipated, would come by way of tv rights. Yet Tebas claimed that wasn’t a sensible estimate.
    “The figures (Perez) put up are not real, there is not that much money in audio/visual rights in world football to pay what they’re asking,” he stated flatly.
    Perez’s argument was that soccer now struggles to seize the eye of youth, and it may be regained solely by way of common matches between high golf equipment – which might in any other case solely happen within the Champions League primarily based fully on a random draw. Levante president Francisco Catalan claimed that “the product might work in the short term, but it will be a failure later,” as common matches between large golf equipment will likely be topic to the legislation of diminishing returns.
    No likelihood to rise
    Playing within the Champions League – the largest membership competitors on the earth – is what lesser golf equipment aspire to.
    “We always dream about getting right to the top, we dream of playing in the Champions League, and our fans dream that too,” stated Roig. “This can only be earned on the pitch. You need to aspire to get to the top. To limit that, (as the ESL proposes), that’s not good.”

  • Atletico held 1-1 at Betis, edges 1 level away from Real Madrid

    Atletico Madrid stumbled once more in its bid to win a primary Spanish league title in seven seasons after drawing 1-1 at Real Betis on Sunday, leaving it narrowly forward of second-place Real Madrid and Barcelona.
    Yannick Carrasco put Atletico forward 5 minutes into the match in Seville. But Cristian Tello struck again for Betis within the twentieth, and the struggling front-runners wanted goalkeeper Jan Oblak to make a number of saves to guard some extent.
    Diego Simeone’s facet edged one level forward of defending champion Real Madrid, which had gone high _ on the head-to-head tiebreaker with Atletico _ after it beat Barcelona 2-1 on Saturday. Barcelona is in third place, an additional level behind.
    Atletico had led Madrid by 11 factors at one stage after its very robust first half of the season. But Diego Simeone’s staff has struggled in 2021, successful simply two of its final six league matches
    It now can’t afford any additional setbacks over the ultimate eight rounds of the season.
    “We started the season strong, while Madrid and Barcelona had troubles. Now we are struggling while Madrid is coming on strong after its big win, and Barcelona is right there,” Simeone stated. “I love this stage of the season. It is decisive, it is exciting. We wanted to be here at the top, fighting against the best.”
    DEPLETED ATTACK
    Atletico went into the match with out Luis Suarez, its high scorer, and versatile midfielder Marcos Llorente. They have been each suspended after choosing up a fifth reserving in final spherical’s 1-0 loss at Sevilla. Backup striker Moussa Dembele was nonetheless unavailable after he misplaced consciousness in coaching two weeks in the past.
    The guests’ assault received even thinner moments into the second half when Joao Felix requested to be substituted. He had tried to play on after he damage his proper ankle simply moments earlier than halftime.
    Suarez, Llorente and Felix have mixed for 39 of Atletico’s 59 objectives in all competitions this season.
    Atletico additionally misplaced its attack-minded proper again Kieran Trippier with 12 minutes left after he took a tough knock to his decrease again.
    Simeone stated that Felix was already being bothered by ache earlier than he went down, including that he hoped the Portugal playmaker can be match for subsequent weekend’s recreation in opposition to Eibar.
    Suarez’s availability for that recreation may be unsure after he injured a left-leg muscle throughout apply this week.

    MISSED CHANCES
    Carrasco scored the early opener after Felix broke down the protection with two fast, brief passes in a decent house. Angel Correa compelled Aissa Mandi to dam his shot from shut up, and the ball fell to Carrasco to complete off with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo off his line.
    Betis quickly responded when Tello got here in from the left flank to the middle of the realm the place he was unmarked to drive in a cross from Alex Moreno.
    Without Felix to assist direct Atletico’s assault, Betis took the initiative after halftime. Emerson, Sergio Canales and substitute Diego Lainez all examined Oblak.
    Atletico’s Correa did muster two late possibilities because the Betis protection flagged in stoppage time, just for Bravo to parry each his makes an attempt.
    Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis, which has come on robust because the winter break, remained in sixth place with solely two losses in its final 14 league video games.
    “I am not satisfied with the draw,” Pellegrini stated. “We had three or four chances to put this away. We were superior in the second half, but lacked precision in our finishing.”

    DEFENDER ATTACKS
    Defender Gabriel Paulista earned a penalty and scored Valencia’s equalizer to assist his staff erase a two-goal deficit and draw 2-2 with Real Sociedad.
    Daniel Wass pulled one again from the penalty spot within the sixtieth minute after Paulista was fouled by Carlos Fernandez within the space.
    Paulista leveled the rating within the 73rd when he headed in a cross from Goncalo Guedes.
    Valencia performed the ultimate 10 minutes with 10 males after Maxi Gomez received a second yellow card.
    It was the primary recreation for Valencia since Mouctar Diakhaby stated he was racially abused by Cadiz participant Juan Cala who has denied any wrongdoing.
    Diakhaby performed the whole recreation on Sunday.

    GOALS, FINALLY
    Osasuna ended a run of 4 video games with out scoring in a 2-1 win at Villarreal.
    Jon Moncayola ended his staff’s drought with an excellent volley within the sixty fourth. After David Garcia scored an own-goal to make it 1-1, Osasuna striker Ante Budimir headed the guests again in entrance.
    Also, Jorge Molina and Quini Marin scored late to present Granada a 2-1 comeback win at Valladolid.

  • Luis Suarez injures leg muscle in coaching as Atletico Madrid’s issues mount

    Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez has been dominated out of motion for round three weeks with a muscle harm, handing one other blow to the membership’s fast-fading title bid.
    Suarez, Atletico’s high scorer this season with 19 league objectives, pulled up injured in Wednesday’s coaching session and his membership later launched a medical report confirming he had harm a muscle in his left leg.
    The assertion didn’t say how lengthy the Uruguayan could be out for though Spanish media studies steered he could be out for 3 weeks.
    The 34-year-old was already suspended for his aspect’s journey to Real Betis on Sunday and is now set to additionally miss the upcoming league journeys to Eibar, Huesca and Athletic Bilbao.
    His harm ought to open up a chance for French striker Moussa Dembele, who joined the membership in January from Olympique Lyonnais however has solely performed 42 minutes within the league and is but to begin.
    Atletico loved a 10-point lead on the high of the standings by the top of January however the hole was lowered to a single level on Monday after Barcelona beat Real Valladolid 1-0, benefiting from Diego Simeone’s aspect’s 1-0 loss at Sevilla.
    Champions Real Madrid are three factors again in third.
    Atletico can even be with out their second high scorer Marcos Llorente towards Betis.