Struggling like by no means earlier than below Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid received the convincing win it wanted earlier than going through Manchester United and outdated nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo.
The class of João Félix and Luis Suárez — mixed with some workforce defending lastly dwelling as much as Simeone’s normal — gave Atlético causes to really feel higher about its upcoming Champions League conflict after a 3-0 win at Osasuna on Saturday within the Spanish league.
Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio and Vinícius Júnior all scored within the second half to present league chief Real Madrid a 3-0 win over Alavés. Second-place Sevilla trails Madrid by seven factors earlier than it visits Espanyol on Sunday.
Atlético’s first away win within the league since late November got here after an embarrassing residence loss to backside facet Levante. The win in Pamplona noticed Atlético transfer forward of Barcelona into fourth place.
Félix smashed in a poor clearance by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera for the third-minute opener. Felix’s cross within the 59th launched a counterattack that Suárez capped with an beautiful left-foot strike — from 40 yards out — over the pinnacle of Herrera, who was caught off his line.
Angel Correa rounded off the win within the 88th together with his team-high twelfth purpose of the season.
“We are happy with the win today after coming from such a bad game, but we knew how to turn the situation around,” the 22-year-old Félix stated after his one hundredth look in all competitions for Atlético.
“This gives us confidence after scoring three and not considering once.” United is the subsequent take a look at for Atlético when it visits Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday within the Champions League round-of-16 first leg.
Ronaldo will return to face a workforce whose followers realized to concern and loath the striker who helped Real Madrid beat Atlético in two Champions League finals, in addition to in home league matches, in his 9 seasons within the Spanish capital.
The win comes amid Atlético’s worst run of outcomes since Simeone took over the membership and turned it right into a winner a decade in the past. Beyond the objectives towards Osasuna, Atlético lastly confirmed the identical protection that Simeone has made the muse of its success by conserving its first clear sheet in eight video games.
“We had been struggling in these types of games for quite some time,” Simeone stated.
“Today we restored that defensive security and from there the team showed it has talent and can produce goals.”
SECOND-HALF SURGE
Despite the lopsided rating, Madrid nonetheless confirmed the identical issues behind its poorest run of an in any other case robust marketing campaign. Madrid was outclassed in its final sport by Paris Saint-Germain and was lucky to solely lose 1-0 of their Champions League match.
Alavés, a workforce within the relegation zone, received the alternatives it wanted to dream of an upset on the Santiago Bernabéu, but it surely was left to rue some jittery ending. Both Jason Remeseiro and substitute Pere Pons had been gifted balls close to the realm from Casemiro and Asensio, just for each gamers to shoot effectively large.
Once Asensio broke via with an excellent curling strike from outdoors the field within the 63rd, it was all Madrid the remainder of the way in which.
Vinícius completed off a slick passing mixture between Federico Valverde, Asensio and Benzema to double the lead together with his thirteenth league purpose of the season with 10 minutes left.
Benzema added a 3rd from the penalty spot late after Rodrygo was fouled, taking his league-leading tally to 18 objectives.
“It takes us time to get to get into games, it is a weakness (that we have),” stated coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“Recently it has been robust for us to attain. Today Karim was feeling higher, Vinícius too, and our second half was a lot better than the primary. Now we’ve every week to enhance this side.”
DANJUMA TREBLE
Villarreal warmed up for Juventus after striker Arnaut Danjuma scored a hat trick to guide his workforce to a 4-1 win at Granada. The Netherlands ahead received two of his objectives from penalties.
Unai Emery’s facet additionally moved forward of Barcelona and into fifth place earlier than it hosts Juventus of their Champions League match on Tuesday.
Also, lvaro Negredo equalized after he had conceded a penalty with a handball to salvage Cádiz in a 1-1 draw at residence with Getafe.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
