Two kick-offs, the one at the start of the second half and the one corresponding to Athletic’s first goal, two goals conceded. In three disastrous minutes after the restart, Atlético suffered their first defeat of the season in a fervent San Mamés. Edin Terzic’s continuous current proposal hooks in La Catedral. It exploded with Nico Williams’ header and Robert Navarro’s precise curl after turning Grimaldo into a spinning top with a cutback. Sancet, close to the version that took him to international level, closed the match in the last minute. A goal from the arriving player that he is.
Read more The EU reviews its sanctions method to maintain pressure on Russia
It was Hjulmand, soft on a cut on the wing, and Giuliano, with a loss on a pass, who caused the two meteoric transitions from Athletic from left to right that dismantled Atlético’s midfield and defense. Two goals against after two kick-offs is an unusual and jarring bill in professional football. The two gifts ended a more than acceptable first half for Atlético and also for Athletic, who knew how to suffer when under pressure. Terzic’s team did not back down when Kang-In Lee smashed a dry right-footed shot against the inside of the post base, quickly armed after skipping Yuri in a good transition. Another quick display from Atlético and a centered shot from Baena warmed Unai Simón’s gloves.
Athletic withstood the threatening staging of their rival. It was with Sancet’s bursts that Terzic’s team tried to say here I am. The rising Gerenabarrena, Ruiz de Galarreta, and Robert Navarro also made their team grow. It was the moment when Atlético was held up by Llorente, Pubill to nullify Nico Williams, and Hjulmand to balance.
The match was very demanding physically. With both teams going to seek and the referee letting play in the struggles. The one who won the pressure was the one who stood in the opposing field. There, in the last meters, the lack of precision betrayed that the match had more pace than finesse. There was not much depth on the sides either. Both Terzic and Simeone contained their full-backs. It was the Argentine coach who first moved to extend the play on the sides. He sent Barrios to the side to start attacks in superiority from there, giving a bit more freedom to Llorente to go forward. It seemed he wanted to revive the times when De Paul triangulated with the all-rounder from Madrid and with Giuliano. This one broke little.
Read more The “pro-life bloc” aims to limit rights with the Government’s push
On the left, there was barely any news from Grimaldo and Lookman due to that blatant insistence on shifting the play to the right. There, a combination ended with a skewed shot from Barrios that hit the post and Unai Simón’s back. With the air of having been superior in the first half, Atlético prepared to start the second. Terzic had to leave Yuri on the bench, stunned after a clash with the solid Hjulmand. Athletic did not forgive that soft start from Atlético. Not only because of the losses but also because of how easily Terzic’s team executed what they do best, break on the run. The ball ran from left to right to Iñaki Williams. His curl from the edge of the area was deflected by an Atlético defender and his brother Nico snatched it with a header under Oblak’s nose.
The hammer became a blow with another meteoric counterattack finished by Robert Navarro down the right interior corridor. Grimaldo turned outward and Athletic’s sharp interior went inside to punish Oblak. With 2-0, Simeone ordered a quadruple change that included the return of Julián Alvarez. Koke, Arnau, and Cuti Romero also came on. Atlético sought to reduce the gap. And it was Julián Alvarez who came closest to achieving it. He maneuvered well at the edge of the area and forced Unai Simón to a good save with a low left-footed shot.
Simeone’s team did not find many more clear chances, very affected by those two goals right after kick-off. And finished off by Sancet when they had thrown themselves forward and created the ideal scenario for what Terzic’s Athletic knows best. Run and hit.
Read more They have sold Venezuela with the Venezuelans inside
