Atlético closes in on European spots after stomping Real Sociedad (3-0)
Goals from Kun, Mario Suárez and Filipe Luis seal the win
Atlético de Madrid took a firm step on their path towards European spots after rolling over Real Sociedad (3-0). Goals from Filipe Luis, Mario Suárez and Kun Agüero were enough to end Real’s hopes. José Antonio Reyes received the biggest ovation from the crowd for his all-around game, seconded by the magic of Agüero and the tireless work of Diego Costa.
The fans at the Vicente Calderón filled the stadium and were treated to a crucial victory for the ‘colchoneros’. After the team’s road win over Osasuna, the side from Madrid wanted to stay on the winning track against Sociedad. Atlético de Madrid held control of the match from the opening whistle. The first chance for the home side arrived in the 2nd minute from the boots of Argentine Kun Agüero. The Atlético striker unleashed a strong right-footed shot from the top of the area that just missed Bravo’s goal. The Atleti ‘10’ was returning to the starting eleven after sitting out a one-game suspension against Osasuna. At his side was Diego Costa, who was rewarded for his hat-trick last weekend with another start.
Real couldn’t seem to find spaces through which to surprise the home back line, while their goalkeeper, Bravo, was very active in the opening minutes. In the sixth minute, the netminder got his hand on a shot to keep the scoreboard at zero. It was looking like an interesting evening and things looked bright for the home team. The changes that Quique Sánchez Flores introduced into the starting line-up were bearing their fruit. Atlético’s goal came on a play started by Kun Agüero. Diego Costa, who showed off his good form, played a beautiful back-heel for Filipe Luis, who was overlapping on the left. The Brazilian ripped a first-timed shot high and to the near post over Bravo’s shoulder and into the back of the net.
Atlético dominated, as they didn’t want to let the train to Europe pass them by. The goal allowed Quique’s lads to relax a bit, but they didn’t want to get carried away. The ‘rojiblanco’ pieces were fitting together well. Reyes brought a scare to Martín Lasarte’s bench in the 25th minute on a set piece, but the winger’s shot was slightly off-target. Although Real did their best, they couldn’t compete with the control exerted by the home team.
Again, a combination between Kun Agüero and Diego Costa created danger, although this time it didn’t lead to a prize for the Brazilian. Kun lifted a chip pass over the defence that Diego brought down with his chest. But his shot was tipped by Bravo onto the far post and away. Costa was unlucky, as he deserved more.
Before heading into the locker room, Atlético tallied their second with a goal from Mario Suárez. The central midfielder latched onto a great pass from José Antonio Reyes, who dribbled by a defender down to the endline and cut it back for Mario to first-time it in
In the second half, Quique Sánchez Flores’ men wanted to continue with their good attitude on the pitch, while Real tried to change up the dynamic from the first half. Tamudo was the first to bring some danger to De Gea’s goal, after the keeper had seen next to no action in the first 45 minutes. While Martín Lasarte’s men didn’t want to give in, the fact is that they brought less intensity than the ‘rojiblancos’.
The Atlético manager asked his lads for hard work, as he didn’t want to settle for the two-goal lead. It looked like Kun Agüero would increase the advantage in the 59th minute, but his shot sailed a tad bit high. Real Sociedad tried to take advantage of Atlético’s lack of rhythm to cut into the lead, but they were ineffective in the final third.
The afternoon wouldn’t have been complete without a goal from Kun Agüero. The Argentine pulled a magnificent individual effort from his sleeve and, after carrying the ball from inside his own half past all of the visiting defenders, beat Bravo on a diagonal shot to the far post. The home superiority was clear and the Real players began to drop their heads. There was little left to see in a game dominated from start to finish by Quique’s men, who draw closer to their European goals with their second straight win.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 3 (Filipe Luis, Mario Suárez and Kun Agüero); REAL SOCIEDAD, 0.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Godín, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Mario Suárez, Reyes (Raúl García, 86’), Koke (Juanfran, 74’); Kun Agüero and Diego Costa (Forlán, 70’).
Real Sociedad: Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Ansotegi, Deminov, Estrada; Elustrondo (Zurutuza, 57’), Markel, Aranburu; Xabi Prieto, Griezmann (Sutil, 70’) and Tamudo (Ifrán, 63’).
Referee: Álvarez Izquierdo. For Atlético de Madrid showed yellow cards to Tiago (71’) and Kun Agüero (87’); for Real Sociedad booked Demidov (70’).
Notes: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Matchday 31 of La Liga BBVA.
Goals:
1-0 (11’). Filipe Luis runs onto a Diego Costa back-heel and beats Bravo to the near post.
2-0 (44’). Mario Suárez scores the second after a magnificent pass from Reyes from the left.
3-0 (78’). Kun Agüero carries the ball from inside his own half and scores the third to the far post.
The fans at the Vicente Calderón filled the stadium and were treated to a crucial victory for the ‘colchoneros’. After the team’s road win over Osasuna, the side from Madrid wanted to stay on the winning track against Sociedad. Atlético de Madrid held control of the match from the opening whistle. The first chance for the home side arrived in the 2nd minute from the boots of Argentine Kun Agüero. The Atlético striker unleashed a strong right-footed shot from the top of the area that just missed Bravo’s goal. The Atleti ‘10’ was returning to the starting eleven after sitting out a one-game suspension against Osasuna. At his side was Diego Costa, who was rewarded for his hat-trick last weekend with another start.
Real couldn’t seem to find spaces through which to surprise the home back line, while their goalkeeper, Bravo, was very active in the opening minutes. In the sixth minute, the netminder got his hand on a shot to keep the scoreboard at zero. It was looking like an interesting evening and things looked bright for the home team. The changes that Quique Sánchez Flores introduced into the starting line-up were bearing their fruit. Atlético’s goal came on a play started by Kun Agüero. Diego Costa, who showed off his good form, played a beautiful back-heel for Filipe Luis, who was overlapping on the left. The Brazilian ripped a first-timed shot high and to the near post over Bravo’s shoulder and into the back of the net.
Atlético dominated, as they didn’t want to let the train to Europe pass them by. The goal allowed Quique’s lads to relax a bit, but they didn’t want to get carried away. The ‘rojiblanco’ pieces were fitting together well. Reyes brought a scare to Martín Lasarte’s bench in the 25th minute on a set piece, but the winger’s shot was slightly off-target. Although Real did their best, they couldn’t compete with the control exerted by the home team.
Again, a combination between Kun Agüero and Diego Costa created danger, although this time it didn’t lead to a prize for the Brazilian. Kun lifted a chip pass over the defence that Diego brought down with his chest. But his shot was tipped by Bravo onto the far post and away. Costa was unlucky, as he deserved more.
Before heading into the locker room, Atlético tallied their second with a goal from Mario Suárez. The central midfielder latched onto a great pass from José Antonio Reyes, who dribbled by a defender down to the endline and cut it back for Mario to first-time it in
In the second half, Quique Sánchez Flores’ men wanted to continue with their good attitude on the pitch, while Real tried to change up the dynamic from the first half. Tamudo was the first to bring some danger to De Gea’s goal, after the keeper had seen next to no action in the first 45 minutes. While Martín Lasarte’s men didn’t want to give in, the fact is that they brought less intensity than the ‘rojiblancos’.
The Atlético manager asked his lads for hard work, as he didn’t want to settle for the two-goal lead. It looked like Kun Agüero would increase the advantage in the 59th minute, but his shot sailed a tad bit high. Real Sociedad tried to take advantage of Atlético’s lack of rhythm to cut into the lead, but they were ineffective in the final third.
The afternoon wouldn’t have been complete without a goal from Kun Agüero. The Argentine pulled a magnificent individual effort from his sleeve and, after carrying the ball from inside his own half past all of the visiting defenders, beat Bravo on a diagonal shot to the far post. The home superiority was clear and the Real players began to drop their heads. There was little left to see in a game dominated from start to finish by Quique’s men, who draw closer to their European goals with their second straight win.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 3 (Filipe Luis, Mario Suárez and Kun Agüero); REAL SOCIEDAD, 0.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Godín, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Mario Suárez, Reyes (Raúl García, 86’), Koke (Juanfran, 74’); Kun Agüero and Diego Costa (Forlán, 70’).
Real Sociedad: Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Ansotegi, Deminov, Estrada; Elustrondo (Zurutuza, 57’), Markel, Aranburu; Xabi Prieto, Griezmann (Sutil, 70’) and Tamudo (Ifrán, 63’).
Referee: Álvarez Izquierdo. For Atlético de Madrid showed yellow cards to Tiago (71’) and Kun Agüero (87’); for Real Sociedad booked Demidov (70’).
Notes: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Matchday 31 of La Liga BBVA.
Goals:
1-0 (11’). Filipe Luis runs onto a Diego Costa back-heel and beats Bravo to the near post.
2-0 (44’). Mario Suárez scores the second after a magnificent pass from Reyes from the left.
3-0 (78’). Kun Agüero carries the ball from inside his own half and scores the third to the far post.
