The insistence of Real Sociedad had its reward against a stingy Atlético de Madrid, who tried to protect for almost 90 minutes the three points that guaranteed them Julián Alvarez’s goal when the first of the game had not been completed, but the colchonera stinginess was punished when Sucic beat Oblak and rescued at least one point, which knows better after so much struggle.
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Álex Remiro, Igor Zubeldia, Nayef Aguerd, Jon Aramburu, Javi López (Brais Méndez, min. 45), Luka Sucic, Takefusa Kubo, Martín Zubimendi, Sheraldo Becker (Ander Barrenetxea, min. 60), Sergio Gómez and Mikel Oyarzabal
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Jan Oblak, Axel Witsel, José Giménez, Clément Lenglet, Javi Galán (Reinildo, min. 82), Nahuel Molina, Antoine Griezmann (Rodrigo Riquelme, min. 82), Koke, Pablo Barrios, Conor Gallagher (Rodrigo De Paul, min. 63) and Julián Alvarez (Alexander Sørloth, min. 73)
Goals
0-1 min. 0: Julián Álvarez. 1-1 min. 83: Luka Sucic
Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos
Clement Lenglet (min. 54), Javi Galán (min. 79), Simeone (min. 87)
San Sebastian and Madrid arrived with post-European depression after defeats in the Europa League and Champions respectively, and trying to hide it as much as possible, but since a draw would not heal too many wounds, the victory of one of the two teams would sow more doubts in the other. However, after 90 minutes, and despite the distribution of points, Real came out stronger, while Atlético offered an image that was not in line with what is expected of them.
Atlético was immediately presented with an ideal scenario, before reaching the first minute of the game, in the first play that started from behind, and it was two former Real Sociedad players who opened the spigot. Javi Galán came out on his wing, sent long into the area for Griezmann to control and backheel towards Julián Alvarez, who was accompanying him in the play, and who looked for the best position to finish and beat Remiro with a cross shot.
Planted at the back with a defense of five, Simeone’s team limited itself to covering the wings with Nahuel and Galán, so that Becker and Kubo, respectively, could not receive properly. La Real, which was trying to start the plays with speed, however, got stuck when approaching the area. There the circulation slowed down, became predictable, and ended up getting stuck. The centre-backs hardly had to intervene, because Gallagher and Koke were in charge of sweeping a few meters ahead.
La Real offered its greatest danger in the dead ball. A corner well taken by Sergio Gómez from the left spread panic in the mattress defense. Zubimendi’s first shot was taken by Oblak, making his way between teammates who populated the goal line; The second, from Aguerd, was also neutralized by the Slovenian goalkeeper, who removed the danger from the small area. Then, around the half-hour mark, a couple of defensive mistakes allowed realistic entry on the wings, but the San Sebastian team had to rely on individual actions, such as that of Kubo, almost at the end of the first half, to whom Oblak guessed the shot. .
Atlético, meanwhile, seemed comfortable with the role they had adopted after scoring, although they lacked connection between the defense and their island in the opposite field, Julián Alvarez, who ran from one side to the other looking for his opportunity, but without finding it, because His team lost the ball too early, and when they had it, they looked more horizontally than vertically. Having fulfilled his ambition of taking the lead on the scoreboard, taking risks to extend his advantage did not enter into his mental scheme. There could always be another opportunity to fish without having to get your feet wet.
Imanol looked for more imagination in the second half, with the entry of Brais Méndez to enrich his interior game, and Zubimendi, the second best midfielder in the world according to Luis De la Fuente, was entrusted to temper any offensive impulse of Atlético, with his team more focused on the opposite field. In fact, the attitude of some and others worsened. The Real’s harassment became more intense, while the colchoneros dug trenches, confident in their defensive capacity. The game became a monologue, although the efforts of Oyarzabal and his team crashed in the red and white defense when balls flew against the centre-backs and shots from distance were always lost very wide.
But the insistence had its reward when the Anoeta stands became desperate, despite their spirits not failing. A ball lost by De Paul on the side was picked up by Oyarzabal, who assisted Sucic, who hit it in a parabola to beat Oblak and sneak it into the opposite corner. After playing defense, Atlético had lost the habit of attacking, and although they tried to stretch, they could not make Real Sociedad, with the rush of the goal, abandon the initiative, without luck this time.
