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Tag: Atletico

  • Atletico Madrid reply to dip in type with assertion victory at Villarreal

    La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid secured an important 2-0 win away to Villarreal on Sunday to reaffirm their title ambitions following a troublesome run of outcomes.
    Diego Simeone’s aspect had been smarting from twin defeats to Levante and Chelsea however went forward within the twenty fifth minute courtesy of an Alfonso Pedraza personal objective following a goalmouth scramble, the strike being flagged offside then given after a VAR overview.
    Atletico survived one other video overview simply earlier than halftime when Thomas Lemar was proven a yellow card reasonably than a purple for elbowing an opponent earlier than document signing Joao Felix got here off the bench to double their lead within the 69th on the volley.
    A primary win in 4 video games in all competitions moved Atletico on to 58 factors after 24 video games, 5 away from second-placed Barcelona, who’ve performed 25, and 6 above third-placed Real Madrid.
    Real play at dwelling to Real Sociedad on Monday earlier than visiting Atletico subsequent Sunday in an important recreation within the title race.
    “This win gives us a lot of confidence and puts us back on the path we were on before and now we’re really looking forward to the derby,” mentioned Stefan Savic.
    “This was a very important game in a ground that is always difficult for us, we were on a bad run but we stood tall.”

    5️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ games3️⃣0️⃣8️⃣ wins
    Diego Simeone equals Luis Aragones for many wins as Atletico Madrid supervisor ⚪🔴 pic.twitter.com/635m2jgUPo
    — B/R Football (@brfootball) February 28, 2021
    Villarreal slid all the way down to seventh within the standings on 37 factors and are with no win of their final seven league video games.
    Unai Emery’s aspect took the sport to Atletico within the early levels however struggled to create any actual hazard and fell behind from a set piece.
    Thomas Lemar whipped a nook in the direction of the far submit and Savic nodded it throughout the objective the place it was inadvertently bundled in by Pedraza.
    Villarreal missed an ideal likelihood to equalise earlier than halftime when Moreno scuffed a shot which keeper Jan Oblak saved and Atletico captain Koke needed to scramble the free ball off the road.
    Atletico practically doubled their lead early within the second half by means of prime scorer Luis Suarez however the Uruguayan’s shot was tipped over the bar by Sergio Asenjo.
    Villarreal reasserted themselves on the sport however once more didn’t get previous Oblak and had been dealt a deadly blow by Felix, who celebrated his first objective since late January by placing his finger to his lips.

  • Chelsea tops Atletico in Champions League with Giroud’s bicycle-kick purpose

    After his nice overhead kick discovered the web to interrupt the impasse in a tough match, all Olivier Giroud might do was wait.
    And wait and wait.
    Giroud’s 68th-minute bicycle-kick purpose towards Atlético Madrid was initially disallowed for offside and it took practically three minutes for video evaluate to reverse the decision and safe Chelsea the 1-0 away win within the first leg of the spherical of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
    Giroud was clearly in entrance of the defenders when he pulled off his acrobatic shot and few Chelsea gamers complained when the linesman raised his flag, however VAR decided that the ball got here from Atlético defender Mario Hermoso as a substitute of Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, thus annulling the offside.
    “I did not know what to think about the goal, I just focused on hitting the overhead kick and was pleased to see it go in the back of the net, I had no clue about being offside,” Giroud mentioned. “Mason Mount said he did not touch the ball. Good for the team, good for me.”
    The consequence stored Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel unbeaten in eight matches since he took over the squad to interchange Frank Lampard.
    “Fantastic result, fantastic goal. Well deserved,” Tuchel mentioned. “It was a very disciplined performance — a deserved shutout.”
    Atlético was the house workforce however the match was performed in Bucharest, Romania, due to journey restrictions stopping guests from Britain coming into Spain.
    The second leg shall be on March 17 in London.
    In the opposite round-of-16 match on Tuesday, Bayern Munich defeated Lazio 4-1 in Italy.

    It was the second consecutive loss for Atlético after a seven-match unbeaten streak in all competitions. It was additionally the eighth straight sport wherein the Spanish membership has conceded a purpose, extending its worst run with out a clear sheet since coach Diego Simeone arrived in late 2011.
    “It’s been a difficult week but we have to keep competing,” Atlético midfielder Koke Resurrección mentioned. “We have to raise our heads and try to win the second leg. There’s no other option for us.”
    It had been a lackluster match till Giroud’s purpose, with neither workforce managing to create many important scoring alternatives and with the goalkeepers not having to work too onerous. Chelsea managed possession and seemed a bit extra harmful, however either side gave the impression to be glad with the scoreless draw and didn’t take too many dangers.
    “We knew they were ready to suffer with eight people in the box,” Tuchel mentioned. “The intention was to keep the intensity high. This is what we did very good. We never let them breathe or come out for counter-attacks. We have a big reward with this result. This is one of the toughest challenges to open a defense like (Atlético’s).”
    Atlético was outshot by Chelsea and completed the match with no makes an attempt on track.
    “We know the importance of the away goal in Europe so that is why I was pleased to help the team win the game,” Giroud mentioned. “We managed it well and we were confident but faced a great team and I think we were very committed and knew their main strengths. We dealt with it, but we have to stay focused and complete the job.”
    Hermoso was attempting to clear the ball from the world whereas below strain from Mount and kicked it backward. Giroud reached up excessive together with his left foot to ship the ball towards the nook previous Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
    “The game was decide on details,” Koke mentioned. “It didn’t look like a dangerous play but they ended scoring a great goal.”
    Mount and Jorginho had been proven yellow playing cards and can miss the second leg due to accumulation of playing cards.
    Simeone needed to improvise with midfielder Marcos Llorente for granted again towards Chelsea due to a number of absences on protection, together with Kieran Trippier following an English betting investigation.
    The groups had performed within the group stage of the Champions League within the 2017-18 season, with Chelsea successful 2-1 in Spain earlier than a 1-1 attract London. Atlético eradicated Chelsea within the semifinals in 2014.
    It was in Bucharest that Simeone gained his first title with Atlético, the 2012 Europa League.

  • Real Madrid transfer nearer to prime spot as Atletico lose at dwelling to Levante

    After Atlético Madrid stumbled in La Liga, Real Madrid didn’t miss its likelihood to maneuver nearer to the highest.
    Madrid received 1-0 at Valladolid on Saturday for its fourth consecutive win, whereas Atlético misplaced factors for the second straight match in a 2-0 dwelling loss in opposition to Levante that ended its 11-game unbeaten streak within the league.

    Two weeks forward of the Madrid derby, @realmadriden shut the hole on the prime to three factors… 👀#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/cGwWBDIXiQ
    — LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) February 20, 2021
    The outcomes left second-place Madrid inside three factors of Atlético, which stays with a sport in hand however is beginning to really feel the warmth. Third-place Barcelona can transfer inside six factors of Atlético if it beats struggling Cádiz at dwelling on Sunday.
    Casemiro scored with a Sixty fifth-minute header off a cross by Toni Kroos to provide Madrid the win two rounds earlier than it visits Atlético on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
    Madrid has been capable of inch nearer to the highest regardless of enjoying with out a number of key gamers not too long ago due to accidents, together with Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Eden Hazard.
    None of them may play in Valladolid as Madrid withstood a number of threats however was largely in management in opposition to the hosts, that are winless in seven matches in all competitions and sit second-to-last within the 20-team standings.
    ATLÉTICO STALLS
    José Luis Morales scored within the thirtieth minute and Jorge de Frutos added one other aim in stoppage time on the Metropolitano, handing Atlético its first league loss since December — and first at dwelling in additional than a yr.
    Diego Simeone’s group has received solely certainly one of its final 4 league matches.
    “I’m not looking for excuses, we need to find solutions,” Simeone mentioned. “It’s natural that we will find difficulties along our path. There will be challenges.”
    It was the second consecutive league match between Atlético and Levante. They drew 1-1 on Wednesday in a sport postponed from the second spherical due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    Atlético had received 9 of its final 11 league matches and hadn’t misplaced since a 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid in December. It had drawn two of its final three video games, with setbacks in opposition to Levante and Celta Vigo. Atlético was eradicated by third-division membership Cornellà within the second spherical of the Copa del Rey in January.

    🐸🏟️ @LevanteUDen are the primary visiting group to win on the Wanda Metropolitano since December 2019!#AtletiLevante pic.twitter.com/aJlKvENCmA
    — LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) February 20, 2021
    Atlético was unbeaten at dwelling within the league in 22 matches, since a 1-0 loss to Barcelona in December 2019. It went 23 matches unbeaten at dwelling between 2013 and 2014, when it final received the league.
    Levante, which not too long ago made it to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey for the primary time in 86 years, hadn’t received in 14 video games at Atlético within the league, with 13 losses and one draw. It had additionally received at Real Madrid 4 rounds in the past after going winless in its final eight away matches. Levante hadn’t received two away matches in a row within the league since 2018.
    It moved to eighth with Saturday’s win, its first in 4 matches in all competitions.
    Atlético has a troublesome schedule forward, internet hosting Chelsea within the spherical of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday and enjoying Villarreal and Real Madrid in its subsequent two Spanish league matches.
    OTHER RESULTS
    Manu Vallejo and Kevin Gameiro scored a aim every in second-half stoppage time as Valencia beat Celta Vigo 2-0 at dwelling.
    Elche beat visiting Eibar 1-0 with a first-half aim by Dani Calvo in a match between relegation-threatened groups.

  • La Liga: Luis Suarez brace not sufficient as Atletico Madrid drop factors vs Celta Vigo

    Image Source : AP Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring in opposition to Celta Vigo on the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on Monday evening.
    Another excellent evening by Luis Suárez wasn’t sufficient to maintain Atlético Madrid from lacking an opportunity to extend its lead within the Spanish league.

    An Atlético workforce depleted by the coronavirus conceded late in drawing with Celta Vigo 2-2 at house regardless of one other Suárez double on Monday.

    Facundo Ferreyra scored an 89th-minute equalizer for the guests, who took an early lead earlier than Suárez added to his scoring streak with a objective in every half. His league-leading tally was as much as 16.

    The Uruguay striker, who arrived after being let go by Barcelona on the finish of final season, has discovered the online seven instances in his final 4 video games.

    The draw moved Atlético eight factors away from Barcelona and Real Madrid with a sport in hand. The lead would have stayed at 10 factors had it held on to the victory.

    “We know that we have to win these games at home, and today we allowed them to equalize almost in the last play of the match,” Atlético captain Koke Resurrección mentioned.

    Atletico was lacking a number of key gamers due to optimistic COVID-19 assessments, together with João Félix and Yannick Carrasco. Two new optimistic outcomes had been introduced hours earlier than the sport at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, for Héctor Herrera and Thomas Lemar. Moussa Dembélé and Mario Hermoso additionally had been out due to the virus.

    Celta, winless in seven straight matches in all competitions, stayed in tenth place. It opened the scoring with a header by Santi Mina within the thirteenth.

    The 34-year-old Suárez, who additionally missed just a few matches after testing optimistic for the coronavirus, obtained his targets off his first two pictures on track at Metropolitano.

    “We have been conceding too many goals early in the matches,” Koke mentioned. “We have to improve in that area if we want to keep fighting for the title.”

    Atlético not too long ago additionally needed to come from behind in opposition to Eibar and Valencia. Simeone’s workforce has received each league match since shedding at Real Madrid 2-0 in December, although it was eradicated by third-division membership Cornellà within the second spherical of the Copa del Rey.

    Atlético’s subsequent sport is at eighth-placed Granada on Saturday. Celta hosts Elche on Friday.

  • Watch: Atletico Madrid widen lead at prime, Barcelona win with out Messi

    Atletico Madrid hasn’t flinched in its quest to win the Spanish league title for the primary time since 2014.
    Coming from behind for a second straight time, Atletico defeated Valencia 3-1 on Sunday to strengthen its maintain on the league lead coming into the second half of the season.
    Barcelona earlier picked up its second win in a row with out the suspended Lionel Messi, defeating Elche 2-0 to regain third place.
    Joao Felix, Luis Suarez and Angel Correa scored to present Atletico its seventh straight league win and a seven-point hole to second-place Real Madrid with a recreation in hand. Diego Simeone’s group is 10 factors forward of Barcelona.
    Atletico had additionally wanted to rally to win its earlier league match, in opposition to Eibar.
    “We started behind again but this team always fights until the end and thankfully we ended with the victory,” Felix stated. “We can’t get too caught up with the lead that we have now. We have to stayed focused match after match.”

    Valencia opened the scoring with a wonderful curling long-range shot by Uros Racic within the eleventh minute, however Felix equalized off a nook kick within the twenty third and Suarez put the hosts forward with a well-placed low shot into the far nook within the 54th from a Felix move. Correa sealed the victory by finishing a cross from Marcos Llorente within the 72nd.
    Suarez, who netted a late winner in opposition to Eibar final weekend, is now one of many league’s main scorers with 12 objectives, together with Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri.
    Valencia, which was unbeaten in 5 matches in all competitions, stayed in 14th place. It has the identical 20 factors as Alaves, the primary group contained in the relegation zone after 20 matches.
    Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby had to get replaced early within the second half due to an obvious muscle damage.
    BARCELONA ON A ROLL
    Frenkie de Jong scored within the thirty ninth and arrange Riqui Puig’s 89th-minute objective to present Barcelona its fourth league win in a row as Messi served the second of his two-game suspension for hitting an opponent.
    The Catalan membership moved a degree in entrance of Sevilla, which on Saturday beat Cadiz 3-0.
    It was the primary time Barcelona gained 4 consecutive league matches this season, with all 4 victories coming in away matches. It hasn’t misplaced in 9 straight league video games.
    “We’ve improved since the year started,” De Jong stated. “We’ve only played away games in the league and won all of them. We are doing better.”

    De Jong scored into the open internet after the Elche protection failed to totally clear a cross from Martin Braithwaite to Antoine Griezmann inside the realm. The Dutch midfielder made a well-placed cross for Puig’s late header for his first-ever Spanish league objective.
    Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a vital foot-save to maintain Barcelona forward within the 56th after Elche ahead Emiliano Rigoni entered the realm in a one-on-one state of affairs. The breakaway for the hosts was prompted after a blunder by Barcelona defender Oscar Mingueza, who gave the ball away close to midfield.
    “It’s one of those plays that can make the difference in the match,” Elche defender Gonzalo Verdu stated. “The goalkeeper made a tremendous save. A goal there could have changed the match.”
    Barcelona was coming off a 2-0 win over third-division membership Cornella within the spherical of 32 of the Copa del Rey on Thursday, when Messi served the primary match of his suspension for hitting an opponent within the group’s 3-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao within the Spanish Super Cup closing on Jan. 17.
    Elche, winless in its final 13 league video games, was second-to-last within the 20-team standings.
    CELTA HELD
    Celta Vigo was held 1-1 in opposition to Eibar to increase its winless streak to 5 matches in all competitions. It had misplaced 4 straight, together with in opposition to third-division membership Ibiza within the second spherical of the Copa del Rey. Its final league win was in December.
    Celta sits in ninth-place, whereas Eibar stayed fifteenth, not removed from the relegation zone.

    OSASUNA WINS
    Osasuna snapped its personal 13-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Granada.
    Ante Budimir scored a pair of first-half objectives for the hosts, who hadn’t gained within the league since October.
    The win moved Osasuna out of the relegation zone, whereas Granada stayed in seventh place.

  • Atlético extends Liga lead after Real Madrid attracts at Elche

    Luis Suárez led Atlético Madrid to a 1-0 victory over Getafe within the five hundredth sport for coach Diego Simeone, extending its Spanish league lead after Real Madrid drew 1-1 at Elche.The Uruguay striker used a robust and exact header to ship Yannick Carrasco’s lob from a free kick into the decrease nook of Getafe’s web within the twentieth minute on Wednesday. It was Suárez’s eighth objective within the league this season since leaving Barcelona for one in all its high rivals.Atlético’s third win in a row left it two factors above Madrid, which noticed its five-game league successful streak finish at Elche. Atlético additionally has two video games in hand on Madrid.Simeone has reworked Atlético into one of many high groups in Europe because the former participant returned to the membership to change into its coach 9 years in the past. He has guided it to 2 Europa League titles, one Spanish league, one Copa del Rey, together with two Champions League ultimate appearances.“We have always gone forward game by game since the day I arrived so we can focus on the present,” Simeone mentioned.”I at all times needed to come back again and assist the membership develop.”Atlético midfielder Jorge “Koke” Resurrección has been with Simeone from the beginning.“It’s incredible for a coach to have been at one place for so long,” mentioned Koke.”He has given a lot stability to the membership. I hope that he has 500 extra to go.”MADRID SLIPSMadrid seemed able to romp early within the match at promoted Elche.Marcelo had already hit the crossbar earlier than Luka Modric put the defending champions forward within the twentieth. Elche goalkeeper Édgar Badía did effectively to push a blistering strike by Marco Asensio onto his bar, just for the rebound to fall to Modric to go in.Madrid, nevertheless, didn’t capitalize on its superior play for the remainder of the primary half, and a penalty plus some nice saves by Badía ended up costing Zinedine Zidane’s facet two factors.Dani Carvajal gave away the penalty when he clung to Antonio Barragán’s shirt within the space, sending Fidel Chaves to the spot to beat Thibaut Courtois and equalize within the 52nd.Lucas Boye nearly put Elche forward when he grazed the upright within the 63rd. Madrid then pressed for the winner, however Badía denied Carvajal and smothered Sergio Ramos’ effort from shut vary.Eden Hazard got here on late as a Madrid substitute for his first motion after a month sidelined together with his newest harm.NO TRIPPIERAtlético was with out England defender Kieran Trippier, who missed his first match as a result of his 10-week suspension by the English Football Association for breaking betting guidelines.The alleged misconduct, denied by Trippier, occurred in July 2019 — the month the England worldwide left Tottenham for Atletico — and was linked to details about his switch getting used for betting.“I find it unfair that Atlético Madrid is harmed and the English federation, which made the decision, is benefited,” Simeone mentioned concerning the suspension.”We will communicate with Trippier within the coming days and we hope that his ban will be lowered.”Sime Vrsaljko took Trippier’s place as proper wingback after getting back from a protracted harm layoff following knee surgical procedure.ASPAS AGAINIago Aspas scored his competition-leading ninth objective of the season to double Celta Vigo’s lead in a 2-1 win over last-place Huesca.Celta has gained 5 and drawn one because the arrival of coach Eduardo Coudet in late November, lifting it from the relegation zone into eighth place.THREE RED CARDSJorge Molina scored with two minutes remaining to offer Granada a 2-1 win over Valencia in a match that included the sending off of three gamers.Valencia misplaced Jason Remeseiro to his second yellow card within the seventieth and Gonçalo Guedes to a direct purple three minutes later. Granada’s Domingos Duarte additionally acquired a straight purple within the 76th.

  • Atletico Madrid To Appeal Against €350k Fine For Overcrowding Of Wanda Metropolitano

    Spanish giants Atletico Madrid were recently on the receiving end of criticism after Spanish football’s anti-violence commission imposed a fine amounting to €350,000 for allowing fans in excess to the original capacity in a certain section of Wanda Metropolitano. But the club has appealed against the commission’s verdict, detailing the number of fans present in the 18 games prior to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, further raising some crucial questions on the timing of the verdict. Atletico Madrid were ordered to pay a fine of €350,000 on allegations that the club allowed fans in excess to the original capacity in the southern bottom tier of Wanda Metropolitano. But the Rojiblancos have strongly denied such allegations. The club released an official statement clarifying its stand on the same.  The statement provides a detailed update on the number of fans that were allowed at the Atletico Madrid stadium during the 18 games which were played during the 2019-20 season before the lockdown came into force. The club state that the attendance data has been sourced from LaLiga’s computerised access control system.