Atlético de Madrid - Athletic Club

At.Madrid 2 Athletic Club 0

Athletic Club lost to Atlético de Madrid at the Vicente Calderón stadium by 2-0. Forlán and Kun Agüero scored the local goals, both during the second half of a match that resembled a film with an ending that is sadly all too familiar this season: a good start, no effectiveness when taking a shot at goal and greater ability to resolve things on behalf of the rival. Even so, Athletic Club are still in sixth place, which for the time being gives us the right to take part in UEFA Europa League, but just around the corner, next Monday, it will be vital to notch up in threes at home in order to remain in the thick of things in what is foreseen to be a bitter struggle for these noble positions.

The first minutes shed some light on the situation that both teams are in as well as their ambition. Our team came onto the pitch all wired up and in the very first minute Gurpegi was on the verge of scoring after finishing off with a header from a foul kicked from the left, Toquero could not make it in time to finish it off from almost in the goalmouth and then in the 7th minute Llorente hammered away from outside the area, but the ball smashed into the goalpost. The initiative belonged to Athletic and the local counter-attacking attempts were almost always in vain. In spite of everything, as the minutes ticked on Atlético managed to mellow Athletic’s runs, but anyone watching the clash and forced to make a bet as to who would score first, would have bet their euros in favour of our team’s colours.

Athletic had woven a dense net in the centre, they stole balls in tricky areas, and played them almost always with criterion, from the wings and also Llorente took practically all of the air balls despite, move after move, Assunçao persisted on hanging on to him or committing a foul, except in the eyes of the referee. The ref also did not make any bookings in the two almost consecutive moves in the 24th minute, one at each end, and in which penalties were claimed. The first one by Domínguez who intercepted, while on the ground with his hand, a run by Javi Martínez and the second when San José’s hand came into contact with the ball during a pass to the centre from the right. At the expense of what the journalists who are experts in inventing words ending with “ato” say and in virtual placings, both actions looked as if they were involuntary.

Those who were in black yesterday did not give up in their noble attempt to distance themselves from their closest rivals, none of which had won their previous matches, and the goal-scoring opportunities always came about at the same goal before De Gea was turned into, with very little doubt, the best player of the team and perhaps of the match. A great shot at goal by Llorente following an individual move was deflected by De Gea in the 27th minute and his clearance could not be converted into goal by Gabilondo. De Gea caught Toquero’s shot at goal in the 36th and prior to the halftime break once more Toquero, who had crossed the ball too much.

And what about Atlético? “Fine, thanks”. A long distance shot by Reyes caught without any problems by Iraizoz had been their riskiest shot in 45 minutes. It could have been taken straight out of the manual, but the good play on behalf of the visitors and the local helplessness led to cries of disapproval being heard even against their own players. In addition to the usual ingenious chants, the presence of flags that theoretically belong to the past and the usual insults against Gurpegi that almost always, at this and other fields, coincide with Ramírez being in charge of refereeing the encounter, this got worse in the 38th minute when several dozen Athletic fans entered the stadium. Unfortunately, in the second half the goals, which are sweet, silenced the criticism.

Both teams confronted the restart without any substitutions and the second half started just as the first had ended, that is to say, with Red-White opportunities, a high shot by Toquero and a long distance shot by Javi Martínez saved by De Gea to be precise. Nevertheless, and almost unintentionally, a sneaky shot by Valera, along with Ustaritz who slipped over and Forlán knowing where to place himself, were the prelude to the 1-0 outcome in the 53rd minute.

The panorama had changed despite, shortly afterwards; Llorente being unable to finish off Gabilondo’s centre pass with a header. And the transformation was brought about not because of Athletic’s resignation, as only ten minutes had gone by, but because of the fact that the hosts felt more at ease with gaps on the way towards Iraizoz. Without excess, between minutes 60 and 68 a Kun header was deflected to corner by Iraizoz, the goalkeeper ruined two Forlán shots at goal and the latter kicked a third shot at goal that went out.

Athletic Club’s scheme did not change, but their leading men did. Susaeta and Yeste replaced Gurpegi and Iturraspe. A foul kicked by the first was finished off by Javi Martínez with a header in the 67th, but De Gea was spot on once again. Soon afterwards Yeste was shown his fifth yellow card and Muniain stepped in for Gabilondo.

Still a quarter of an hour left and Athletic Club created another two clear goal-scoring opportunities. The first was a shot by Llorente that ended up a corner kick and his shot led to another shot under pressure on the half turn from the forward, when Muniain was waiting unmarked in a better position. In the end, the pressure had all been in vain and to top it all off Kun Agüero, in the 88th, took a so-called divided ball inside the area and was alone against Iraizoz who he beat with a low shot.

The punishment too severe to end a match day in which almost all the teams in the ‘European’ qualifying zone in the standings did not notch up too many points. In spite of everything the consolation of still being in sixth place does not give us any points and to keep the European dream alive getting points is what’s needed. Being better than the rival during most part of the match and having more goal-scoring opportunities without being able to convert them is not much help. Let’s hope that the script of being a strong team at home will allow us to produce another film also well-known, but with a more positive ending as far as our interests are concerned.