The shameful racist insults that Nico Williams received when he was about to take a corner kick marred Atlético’s momentous victory in their head-to-head with Athletic for fourth place that gives access to the next Champions League. Once again, one or more heartless people burst in to embarrass Spanish football and sour the six-point gap and the equal goal coefficient with the final 3-1. Overall, Atlético has a three-point advantage over Athletic.
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Oblak, Witsel, Giménez, Mario Hermoso, Koke, De Paul (Azpilicueta, min. 82), Marcos Llorente (Saúl, min. 82), Nahuel Molina (Rodrigo Riquelme, min. 66), Samuel Lino, Griezmann and Correa (Pablo Rivas neighborhoods, min.
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Unai Simón, Lekue, Yeray (Ander Herrera, min. 66), Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Nico Williams, Ruiz de Galarreta (Vesga, min. 69), Williams (Raúl García, min. 81), O. Sancet (Berenguer , min. 66), Benat Prados and Guruzeta (Muniain, min. 66)
Goals 1-0 min. 14: From Paul. 1-1 min. 45: Nico Williams. 2-1 min. 52: Strap. 3-1 min. 80: Unai Simón (pp).
Referee Juan Martínez Munuera
Yellow cards De Paul (min. 4), O. Sancet (min. 59), Aitor Paredes (min. 70), Mario Hermoso (min. 92) and Griezmann (min. 94)
With the mood and competitive pulse in low hours after the European elimination in Dortmund and the embarrassing defeat against Alavés in Vitoria, Fernando Torres’ youth team, League champion, contributed to raising the morale of the stands. Torres, who in three years has won two league titles ahead of Real Madrid, is aiming for the second team bench, the penultimate step below Simeone. The devotion that the fans showed him by chanting his name, when he jumped onto the field and after the minute of silence observed for the death of his father, showed that in popularity he can sustain the competition with Cholo. As a coach he will have to prove it if one day his turn comes. Like whoever was chosen, he will not have an easy time matching Simeone.
He opted for an eleven in which he finally included Nahuel Molina, who is highly noted for his defensive gaps. The inclusion of the Argentine winger took Llorente to the center of the field, but not to the right. He played on the left so as not to denature De Paul. In front, Valverde had to patch up the defense on both sides due to the losses of De Marcos and Yuri. For the right he chose the powerful Vivian and for the left he chose Lekue. The choice was a sign of shielding, as was trying to defuse Atlético’s initial pressure with Unai Simón’s long serve. Since he won the second moves, this gave him control of the initial duel. It was Atlético who insisted on developing from behind and then revealed that their solution was continuous changes of orientation looking for Molina and Lino. That plan didn’t do much harm. With Llorente, Griezmann, Correa and Lino in front of the ball line, the traffic jam was obvious. Only Koke, with passes into space and with one touch, managed to overthrow Athletic’s defensive system. In one of them Llorente was able to break down the left side and put in a cross that Paredes cleared. The ball fell to De Paul in the crescent and he hit a volley that was poisoned to sneak over Unai Simón. The Argentine midfielder vindicated himself with his celebration, questioned as he was by the fans for having described Atlético’s season as very good a couple of days after the defeat in Vitoria.
The goal did not change the tone of the game. Very competitive in the defense of positions, but little gunpowder in the areas. It was Valverde who decided to mutate the landscape when he ordered the Williams brothers to exchange bands. Always threatening, on the right Nico began to get more into action. The recent Cup champion did not break down. He showed his solid and well-armed teamwork. With that complementary double pivot that Ruiz de Galarreta and Beñat Paredes form. Firmer, Athletic scored a few corner kicks. In one of them the execrable insults to Nico Williams occurred. Atlético complied with the protocol by suggesting over the public address system that the offensive chants stop. Koke also approached the young winger to show him his support. “There are stupid people everywhere. I hope this changes little by little, because we are fighting an internal and external fight against this. It is not normal that they still insult you because of your skin color,” he said after the meeting.
Nico Williams had his sporting revenge when his brother took advantage of a poor delivery from Griezmann to assist him and score the equalizer into an empty net with half-time just around the corner. The equalizer forced Atlético into a more temperamental than dominating exit that soon paid dividends. Koke saw a break through the middle from Correa and he got around Unai Simón, leaning to the left to score without opposition. The Argentine, once again, appeared to save the team’s furniture in a delicate situation. Valverde had to shake the tree with a triple change to find the equalizer. Muniain, Herrera and Belenguer came in to try to subject Atlético to a resistance exercise, Simeone also maneuvered by replacing Molina with Riquelme. Atlético did not have to resist much, although Simeone sent a message to that end when he sat Correa down to bring on Barrios. Lino completed a counter that established tranquility.
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