Atlético make a strong push towards Europe, crushing Levante at the Calderón (4-1)
Kun Agüero and Elías mark the differences of the match
Atlético de Madrid continue down the winning path. After beating Osasuna and Real Sociedad and drawing against Espanyol, Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads have strengthened their hold on a European spot thanks to a blowout win over Levante (4-1). A goal from Elías, a brace from Kun Agüero and a Munúa own goal gave a big win to Atlético, who see their dream coming true little-by-little. Additionally, the Atleti striker set a record by scoring in his sixth consecutive game.
In the big party that Atlético de Madrid prepared for Children’s Day, Quique Sánchez Flores’ men put the celebration on hold and gave their all against a Levante side that had been near unbeatable during the second half of the season. After the draw against Espanyol, the ‘rojiblancos’ needed another victory to keep their European aspirations alive.
Both Quique and Luis García went into the match with several players out and were forced to restructure their squads. The ‘colchonero’ manager included Juanfran, Raúl García, Elías and Domínguez in the starting line-up, while the ‘granotas’ wanted to break the goal-scoring drought they’d had at the Vicente Calderón.
The contest began without a clear dominator, although Atlético de Madrid came the closest to Munúa’s goal. Both teams used long balls to try and surprise the opposing defence. There wasn’t much to see during the opening ten minutes at the Vicente Calderón. As the minute passed, Atlético began to liven up. Juanfran tried to create danger twice down the flank, but Levante remained organized and kept order in back.
At the thirteen minute mark, Kun Agüero scored in an offside position after taking in a nice pass from Diego Costa, who again started instead of Diego Forlán, and dribbling around Munúa. The Argentine was slightly behind the last defender and the goal was called back. Levante were unable to attack De Gea’s area and began to play rough. On one of those fouls on the border of their area came the first goal of the evening. Brazilian midfielder Elías scored a superb goal on a free kick by sending the ball into the upper corner and raising the Calderón faithful to their feet.
With the lead on the scoreboard, Atlético de Madrid knew that Levante had to open u pa bit and the home team wanted to take advantage of that to widen their advantage. The ball was in clear possession of Quique Sánchez Flores’ side and Luis García’s squad was having a tough time taking the initiative. Elías was much more participative after his goal, and almost tallied a second in the 27th minute. The Brazilian unleashed a strong diagonal shot that was saved nicely by a stretched out Munúa. One of Estrada Fernández’s linesman again lifted a flag to bring back a Diego Costa goal.
While Atlético continued to look for their second goal, Levante didn’t create a single dangerous chance. De Gea had very little work in the first half-hour of play, as the Atleti defence was closing down well. Levante were only able to draw level right before the half from the penalty spot when Mario Suárez committed a foul inside the area. Caícedo took stepped up and put the ensuing spot kick past De Gea. Things got tougher for the ‘rojiblancos’ despite clearly controlling the play, but bad luck led the visitors’ second attack of the night to an equalizer.
In the second half, Atlético wanted to continue to play as they had in the first, but knew that they had to score soon to knock out Levante. The visitors, however, struck first. In the second minute, De Gea had to make a great save to stop a diagonal shot from Montero. The inspiration of Kun Agüero had to show up to save the home team. The Argentine hunted down his own rebound on the edge of the area and again gave Atleti the lead by ripping a shot just inside Munúa’s post. Quique’s men now had the lead, although Levante were showing a completely different side than they had in the first 45 minutes.
The ‘rojiblancos’ began to play knowing that they had things under control. First Diego Costa, and then Filipe Luis, almost built on the lead. Levante, who had started off the second half well, saw their hard work go to waste in the 69th minute when Ballesteros tripped up Diego Costa inside the area. Kun Agüero slotted home the penalty kick to give Atleti a 3-1 lead.
Atlético de Madrid now had things right where they wanted them. Quique didn’t stop giving instructions from the sidelines, as he didn’t want them to relax, and they responded with discipline on the pitch. Little-by-little Levante began to drop their heads against the constant Atlético attacks. The good intentions of the visitors weren’t enough to cut into the deficit.
The Calderón turned into a ‘fiesta’ when a corner kick to the near post taken by Elías was fumbled into the goal by Munúa, as Raúl García acted as a screen to block the goalkeeper’s view. The match ended shortly after the debut of home-grown player Noguera, who saw his dream of wearing the red-and-white of Atlético come true. This victory allows the side from Madrid to draw closer to punching a ticket to a European competition.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 4 (Elías, Kun Agüero, 2, one penalty, and Munúa, own goal); LEVANTE, 1 (Caicedo, penalty).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Mario Suárez (Assunçao, 81’), Raúl García, Juanfran (Forlán, 71’), Elías (Noguera, 84’); Kun Agüero and Diego Costa.
Levante: Munúa; J. Venta, Ballesteros, Nano, Juanfran; Iborra, Xavi Torres; Valdo, J. Montero (X. Muñoz, 71’), Juanlu (X. Nadal, 20’); Caicedo (Stuani, 76’).
Referee: Estrada Fernández. For Atlético de Madrid showed yellow cards to Mario Suárez (37’) and Diego Costa (55’); for Levante booked Juanfran (2’), Juanlu (11’), Nano (17’) and Iborra (64’).
Game Notes: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Matchday 33 of La Liga BBVA.
Goals:
1-0 (18’). Brazilian Elías gives Atlético de Madrid the lead on a free kick.
1-1 (39’). Caicedo levels from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the area.
2-1 (50’). Kun Agüero gives Atlético back the lead with a low shot just inside Munía’s post.
3-1 (69’). Kun Agüero puts away a penalty committed by Ballesteros on Diego Costa.
4-1 (84’). Munúa knocks the ball into his own net after a corner kick taken by Elías.
In the big party that Atlético de Madrid prepared for Children’s Day, Quique Sánchez Flores’ men put the celebration on hold and gave their all against a Levante side that had been near unbeatable during the second half of the season. After the draw against Espanyol, the ‘rojiblancos’ needed another victory to keep their European aspirations alive.
Both Quique and Luis García went into the match with several players out and were forced to restructure their squads. The ‘colchonero’ manager included Juanfran, Raúl García, Elías and Domínguez in the starting line-up, while the ‘granotas’ wanted to break the goal-scoring drought they’d had at the Vicente Calderón.
The contest began without a clear dominator, although Atlético de Madrid came the closest to Munúa’s goal. Both teams used long balls to try and surprise the opposing defence. There wasn’t much to see during the opening ten minutes at the Vicente Calderón. As the minute passed, Atlético began to liven up. Juanfran tried to create danger twice down the flank, but Levante remained organized and kept order in back.
At the thirteen minute mark, Kun Agüero scored in an offside position after taking in a nice pass from Diego Costa, who again started instead of Diego Forlán, and dribbling around Munúa. The Argentine was slightly behind the last defender and the goal was called back. Levante were unable to attack De Gea’s area and began to play rough. On one of those fouls on the border of their area came the first goal of the evening. Brazilian midfielder Elías scored a superb goal on a free kick by sending the ball into the upper corner and raising the Calderón faithful to their feet.
With the lead on the scoreboard, Atlético de Madrid knew that Levante had to open u pa bit and the home team wanted to take advantage of that to widen their advantage. The ball was in clear possession of Quique Sánchez Flores’ side and Luis García’s squad was having a tough time taking the initiative. Elías was much more participative after his goal, and almost tallied a second in the 27th minute. The Brazilian unleashed a strong diagonal shot that was saved nicely by a stretched out Munúa. One of Estrada Fernández’s linesman again lifted a flag to bring back a Diego Costa goal.
While Atlético continued to look for their second goal, Levante didn’t create a single dangerous chance. De Gea had very little work in the first half-hour of play, as the Atleti defence was closing down well. Levante were only able to draw level right before the half from the penalty spot when Mario Suárez committed a foul inside the area. Caícedo took stepped up and put the ensuing spot kick past De Gea. Things got tougher for the ‘rojiblancos’ despite clearly controlling the play, but bad luck led the visitors’ second attack of the night to an equalizer.
In the second half, Atlético wanted to continue to play as they had in the first, but knew that they had to score soon to knock out Levante. The visitors, however, struck first. In the second minute, De Gea had to make a great save to stop a diagonal shot from Montero. The inspiration of Kun Agüero had to show up to save the home team. The Argentine hunted down his own rebound on the edge of the area and again gave Atleti the lead by ripping a shot just inside Munúa’s post. Quique’s men now had the lead, although Levante were showing a completely different side than they had in the first 45 minutes.
The ‘rojiblancos’ began to play knowing that they had things under control. First Diego Costa, and then Filipe Luis, almost built on the lead. Levante, who had started off the second half well, saw their hard work go to waste in the 69th minute when Ballesteros tripped up Diego Costa inside the area. Kun Agüero slotted home the penalty kick to give Atleti a 3-1 lead.
Atlético de Madrid now had things right where they wanted them. Quique didn’t stop giving instructions from the sidelines, as he didn’t want them to relax, and they responded with discipline on the pitch. Little-by-little Levante began to drop their heads against the constant Atlético attacks. The good intentions of the visitors weren’t enough to cut into the deficit.
The Calderón turned into a ‘fiesta’ when a corner kick to the near post taken by Elías was fumbled into the goal by Munúa, as Raúl García acted as a screen to block the goalkeeper’s view. The match ended shortly after the debut of home-grown player Noguera, who saw his dream of wearing the red-and-white of Atlético come true. This victory allows the side from Madrid to draw closer to punching a ticket to a European competition.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 4 (Elías, Kun Agüero, 2, one penalty, and Munúa, own goal); LEVANTE, 1 (Caicedo, penalty).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Mario Suárez (Assunçao, 81’), Raúl García, Juanfran (Forlán, 71’), Elías (Noguera, 84’); Kun Agüero and Diego Costa.
Levante: Munúa; J. Venta, Ballesteros, Nano, Juanfran; Iborra, Xavi Torres; Valdo, J. Montero (X. Muñoz, 71’), Juanlu (X. Nadal, 20’); Caicedo (Stuani, 76’).
Referee: Estrada Fernández. For Atlético de Madrid showed yellow cards to Mario Suárez (37’) and Diego Costa (55’); for Levante booked Juanfran (2’), Juanlu (11’), Nano (17’) and Iborra (64’).
Game Notes: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Matchday 33 of La Liga BBVA.
Goals:
1-0 (18’). Brazilian Elías gives Atlético de Madrid the lead on a free kick.
1-1 (39’). Caicedo levels from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the area.
2-1 (50’). Kun Agüero gives Atlético back the lead with a low shot just inside Munía’s post.
3-1 (69’). Kun Agüero puts away a penalty committed by Ballesteros on Diego Costa.
4-1 (84’). Munúa knocks the ball into his own net after a corner kick taken by Elías.
