2023-10-22 12:51:14
Not even with a goal advantage and playing against ten did Atlético seem to find peace. But the red and whites have Griezmann, the best player in the last World Cup although the awards only recognize Messi because he is Messi. And with his three goals, the Frenchman turned a team that was doubting into a steamroller that passed over Celta, although it was more on the scoreboard than on the pitch.
Celta did not give up even though everything was against them when before half an hour into the game they were left without their goalkeeper, Iván Villar, who was sent off in a frustrating play for him. He tried to catch a ball instead of clearing it, but it escaped him and fell at Morata’s feet. He knocked it down while trying to correct. Expulsion and penalty scored by Griezmann.
Celta did not collapse despite the fact that the punishment was exaggerated for their goalkeeper, who had made some good saves before leaving. A yellow would have been enough. Despite everything, the Vigo team went looking for the tying goal. Aspas moved easily between the lines and found Larsen, although he lacked the aim to equalize the match.
Simeone corrected the drawing in the second half. He forgot about the five defenders who divided the team and left Koke abandoned, very far from his midfield teammates. He played with four in the back, Azpilicueta went to cover the left side and Riquelme, who played up front on that side, frequently reached the back line.
Celta did not give up. Bamba sent a shot against the crossbar and Oblak came close to scoring a goal after deflecting a shot from De la Torre that got caught on his foot. But Atlético has Griezmann. And everything is simpler when the Frenchman plays, when he scores even unintentionally.
This is how Atlético’s second goal came, in a mistake by Griezmann, who wanted to pass to Morata with his right foot and hit it so badly that Guaita left the nearest post through which the ball went. He couldn’t help Griezmann laughing when he hugged Correa to celebrate after apologizing to Morata for the cross that never reached him.
But there is more than just coincidences and exaggerated refereeing decisions behind Atlético’s victory, a team that shows that it is capable of playing very well, as it did to reach the third goal. Molina, Correa and Morata participated in the play before the full-back centered into the area where Atlético’s “7” only had to push the ball into the goal.
He had turned a complicated match for Atlético despite the numerical superiorities into a rout for the rojiblancos. A win that could have been extended in the last minutes. Soyuncu, who appeared in the second half, had a goal disallowed for offside. And Correa was also close to scoring, but his shot went into the side netting.
Celta no longer had Aspas in the final minutes. He paid the price of playing with one less and Benítez decided to replace him due to the anger of the captain, who reluctantly went to the bench, more upset with his performance in the last minutes than with his coach’s decision.
Griezmann left happy, with a smile on his lips and the ball under his arm as a reward for his three goals.
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