Atlético de Madrid draw against Universidad and pass through to the Cup round of 16 (1-1)
A Fran Mérida goal gives them a draw against the side from the Canary Islands
Atlético de Madrid drew against Universidad de Las Palmas (1-1) and will be in the lottery drum which will give the match ups for the next round of the Copa del Rey. The ‘colchoneros’ put the qualifying tie away in the first leg match away from home and the return leg in front of their supporters was a mere formality. A goal from Fran Mérida was enough to book their ticket for the round of 16.
With their duties completed. That’s how Atlético showed up to the return leg match of the Copa del Rey round of 32 in their stadium, the Vicente Calderón. The ‘rojiblancos’ had earned a convincing 0-5 victory in the first leg against Universidad de Las Palmas. Although it may have seemed like a formality for the home squad, Quique Sánchez Flores didn’t want to see his players relax. It was a good opportunity to give some of the players who had accumulated the most minutes so far this season a bit of rest, and also to see other footballers, such as those from the reserve squad.
Universidad came out with the normal pressure of having to turn around a score that was more than lopsided. Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads dominated the opening minutes of the match and one could see the hunger with which the reserves wanted to play well in front of their manager. The first scoring chance came from the boots of Fran Mérida, who got on the end of nice pass from the right from Koke, but the ball ended up flying over the crossbar.
The difference on the scoreboard, bearing in mind the first leg result, was sufficient for Atleti to play calmly. The visitors tried, but without much intensity. The difference in league categories was evident on the pitch, at least up until the 18th minute when Universidad took advantage of their first clear attack on reserve squad goalkeeper Joel’s goal to take a 0-1 lead. Aridane pounced on a loose ball in the area and, without hesitating, beat Joel, pulling one back on the aggregate score.
With the goal, the players from the Canary Islands got pumped up and began to thread together attacks, which angered the Madrid manager. Quique got up off the bench to encourage his charges and implore them for greater intensity. Koke, a crucial player for Atlético de Madrid B, tried his luck in minute 23, but his shot was well-saved by Li. In minute 37 Brazilian Diego Costa tried to head in a cross from Antonio López, but the striker was unable to connect solidly by the ball. Again, it was a lost chance for the home team, which had to stand up to a smaller club in their own stadium.
Things got tougher for Quique’s lads five minutes before halftime, when they were left a man down when Diego Costa was sent off. The referee called the Brazilian for throwing an elbow which saw him heading for an early shower. With a man less on the pitch, Atlético needed to be aware that things could have become difficult, although fortunately their aggregate lead was still quite large. The first half came to a close with a nice play by Alberto Perea, who was very active during the opening 45 minutes, and another from Koke.
The second half began the same way in which the first had ended. Atlético carried the weight of play immediately after the restart, although Universidad gave their all against the ‘rojiblancos’. The combinations between Alberto Perea, Fran Mérida and Koke began to bear fruit. The three midfielders threaded nice plays together in the first ten minutes of the second stanza which put the visiting defence under serious pressure. First Fran Mérida, and then Koke, put the goalkeeper, Li, to the test, although luck was not on their side.
In minute 57, Alberto Perea had a chance to equalise, but his shot, after a nice run by Koke, passed harmlessly in front of the goal mouth. Mario Suárez came on in the central midfield, and his entrance added bite to the team, which insisted harder in attacking the opposing goal. The captain, Antonio López, tried his luck on a free kick, but his knuckling shot was punched away by Li.
The minutes passed and the rhythm of the match began to decrease. The visitors tried, but without forcefulness, while Atlético de Madrid looked for the chances that fell their way. The reward came for the Madrid side in minute 72 when Fran Mérida unleashed an impressive volley from outside the area; the ball deflected off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced in. Juanito, who was playing again for the first time in quite a while, cleared the 1-2 off the line when Fuli shot from inside the area with Joel out of position. One minute from the final whistle, Fran Mérida missed out on a clear chance to give Atlético the lead with a beautiful chip shot that went just over the crossbar. There was no time left for more at the Vicente Calderón. With things the way they are, Atlético de Madrid will have to wait for the draw to find out who their opponent will be in the next round.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Fran Mérida); UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS PALAMAS, 1 (Aridane).
Atlético de Madrid: Joel; Perea; Juanito, Pulido, Antonio López; Camacho (Assunçao, 79’), Raúl García (Mario Suárez, 46’), Koke; Alberto Perea (Filipe, 75’), Fran Mérida and Diego Costa.
Universidad de Las Palmas: Li; Soto, Alberto Ferreres, Sergio, David Feito; Alberto Hernández (Andrés, 83’), Eloy; Omar (Fuli, 77’), Cristo Martín; Aridane and Ángel Sánchez (Cristian Barrios, 90’).
Referee: Teixeira Vitine. For Atlético de Madrid showed a yellow card to Fran Mérida (58’) and a direct red card to Diego Costa (40’); for Universidad de Las Palmas booked Alberto Hernández (28’), David Feito (35’) and Soto (71’).
Incidents: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Return leg match of the round of 32 in the Copa del Rey.
Goals:
0-1 (18’). Aridane latches onto a loose ball in the area and beats Joel.
1-1 (72’). Fran Mérida levels the score with a nice shot from outside the area.
With their duties completed. That’s how Atlético showed up to the return leg match of the Copa del Rey round of 32 in their stadium, the Vicente Calderón. The ‘rojiblancos’ had earned a convincing 0-5 victory in the first leg against Universidad de Las Palmas. Although it may have seemed like a formality for the home squad, Quique Sánchez Flores didn’t want to see his players relax. It was a good opportunity to give some of the players who had accumulated the most minutes so far this season a bit of rest, and also to see other footballers, such as those from the reserve squad.
Universidad came out with the normal pressure of having to turn around a score that was more than lopsided. Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads dominated the opening minutes of the match and one could see the hunger with which the reserves wanted to play well in front of their manager. The first scoring chance came from the boots of Fran Mérida, who got on the end of nice pass from the right from Koke, but the ball ended up flying over the crossbar.
The difference on the scoreboard, bearing in mind the first leg result, was sufficient for Atleti to play calmly. The visitors tried, but without much intensity. The difference in league categories was evident on the pitch, at least up until the 18th minute when Universidad took advantage of their first clear attack on reserve squad goalkeeper Joel’s goal to take a 0-1 lead. Aridane pounced on a loose ball in the area and, without hesitating, beat Joel, pulling one back on the aggregate score.
With the goal, the players from the Canary Islands got pumped up and began to thread together attacks, which angered the Madrid manager. Quique got up off the bench to encourage his charges and implore them for greater intensity. Koke, a crucial player for Atlético de Madrid B, tried his luck in minute 23, but his shot was well-saved by Li. In minute 37 Brazilian Diego Costa tried to head in a cross from Antonio López, but the striker was unable to connect solidly by the ball. Again, it was a lost chance for the home team, which had to stand up to a smaller club in their own stadium.
Things got tougher for Quique’s lads five minutes before halftime, when they were left a man down when Diego Costa was sent off. The referee called the Brazilian for throwing an elbow which saw him heading for an early shower. With a man less on the pitch, Atlético needed to be aware that things could have become difficult, although fortunately their aggregate lead was still quite large. The first half came to a close with a nice play by Alberto Perea, who was very active during the opening 45 minutes, and another from Koke.
The second half began the same way in which the first had ended. Atlético carried the weight of play immediately after the restart, although Universidad gave their all against the ‘rojiblancos’. The combinations between Alberto Perea, Fran Mérida and Koke began to bear fruit. The three midfielders threaded nice plays together in the first ten minutes of the second stanza which put the visiting defence under serious pressure. First Fran Mérida, and then Koke, put the goalkeeper, Li, to the test, although luck was not on their side.
In minute 57, Alberto Perea had a chance to equalise, but his shot, after a nice run by Koke, passed harmlessly in front of the goal mouth. Mario Suárez came on in the central midfield, and his entrance added bite to the team, which insisted harder in attacking the opposing goal. The captain, Antonio López, tried his luck on a free kick, but his knuckling shot was punched away by Li.
The minutes passed and the rhythm of the match began to decrease. The visitors tried, but without forcefulness, while Atlético de Madrid looked for the chances that fell their way. The reward came for the Madrid side in minute 72 when Fran Mérida unleashed an impressive volley from outside the area; the ball deflected off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced in. Juanito, who was playing again for the first time in quite a while, cleared the 1-2 off the line when Fuli shot from inside the area with Joel out of position. One minute from the final whistle, Fran Mérida missed out on a clear chance to give Atlético the lead with a beautiful chip shot that went just over the crossbar. There was no time left for more at the Vicente Calderón. With things the way they are, Atlético de Madrid will have to wait for the draw to find out who their opponent will be in the next round.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Fran Mérida); UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS PALAMAS, 1 (Aridane).
Atlético de Madrid: Joel; Perea; Juanito, Pulido, Antonio López; Camacho (Assunçao, 79’), Raúl García (Mario Suárez, 46’), Koke; Alberto Perea (Filipe, 75’), Fran Mérida and Diego Costa.
Universidad de Las Palmas: Li; Soto, Alberto Ferreres, Sergio, David Feito; Alberto Hernández (Andrés, 83’), Eloy; Omar (Fuli, 77’), Cristo Martín; Aridane and Ángel Sánchez (Cristian Barrios, 90’).
Referee: Teixeira Vitine. For Atlético de Madrid showed a yellow card to Fran Mérida (58’) and a direct red card to Diego Costa (40’); for Universidad de Las Palmas booked Alberto Hernández (28’), David Feito (35’) and Soto (71’).
Incidents: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Return leg match of the round of 32 in the Copa del Rey.
Goals:
0-1 (18’). Aridane latches onto a loose ball in the area and beats Joel.
1-1 (72’). Fran Mérida levels the score with a nice shot from outside the area.
