After two consecutive defeats in LaLiga, Atlético de Madrid suffered to win this Monday (1st) in their visit to Villarreal (2-1) in the match that closed the 30th round of the Spanish championship, thanks to a goal in the final stretch by Saúl Ñíguez.
The young midfielder revealed in the youth categories of the ‘colchonero’ team, who had just entered the field, secured three crucial points for his team in the race for a place in the next edition of the Champions League with his goal in the 87th minute of game.
The Madrid team is now in fourth place with 58 points, two more than Athletic Bilbao, fifth place with 56 after losing on Sunday to leaders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium (2-0).
Villarreal are now in tenth place with 38 points.
The players led by Argentine coach Diego Simeone are gradually regaining confidence nine days before the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund.
“Athletic Bilbao had lost, we had the opportunity and the possibility, if we won, of regaining that place that we so desperately want. We needed to play a serious, strong game, the boys performed very well, the changes revitalized our midfield and attack” , celebrated Simeone.
Belgian defender Axel Witsel opened the scoring after just 9 minutes. He headed in at the near post following a corner taken by Rodrigo Riquelme. The 35-year-old Belgian had scored just one goal for Atlético, also against Villarreal, last November.
Coach Marcelino García’s team responded with a goal from Norwegian Alexander Sorloth at the beginning of the second half (50′).
The game was busy, with several scoring chances. But the ‘colchonero’ team managed to win in the end with a low shot from Saúl, after a pass from César Azpilicueta, far from the reach of Danish goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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