Atlético take the lead but watch Racing turn the game around (2-1)
The first half went to the ‘rojiblancos’, but they couldn’t close out the match
Atlético de Madrid made their qualification for Europa League tough once again with a loss in Santander. The ‘rojiblancos’ were unable to take advantage of Athletic’s defeat at the Riazor and are stuck in seventh place in the table, as they wait to see what Sevilla do on Wednesday, with only two games left in La Liga.
Atlético de Madrid and Racing de Santander had more that just three points on the line at El Sardinero in the 36th round of La Liga. The ‘rojiblancos’ needed a win to bolster their chances of finishing in one of the two spots that gives direct access to Europa League. Nobody within the organization from the Vicente Calderón wants to finish in seventh place, which would force them to play a qualifying round on July 28th and August 4th. For the Cantabrian side, they wanted to mathematically ensure their spot in the top flight and ended up winning the three points, which allowed them to achieve their goal.
The match had enough incentives in itself, although some players wanted to dedicate a victory to important people. The home side had its thoughts on the memory of the greatest Spanish golfer of all-time, Severiano Ballesteros, who passed away on Saturday after a nearly four-year battle against cancer. Racing de Santander, filled with pride to have count him amongst their supporters, paid an emotional homage to the golfer before the game, which Atlético de Madrid also took part in. Both teams took the pitch wearing shirts with the name of the golfer. The ‘rojiblancos’, underneath that shirt, wore another in support of Juanfran, who lost his father on Sunday due to a sudden heart attack.
Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads arrived in Santander with a phenomenal three month unbeaten streak on the road, the last time being a 3-0 loss at Camp Nou to Barcelona. Since then, Atlético de Madrid hadn’t lose, earning three victories (Zaragoza, 0-1; Osasuna, 2-3; and Deportivo, 0-1) and three drags (Getafe, 1-1; Almería, 2-2; and Espanyol, 2-2). That’s six consecutive matches without losing away from home which boosted them up the table into European spots. The visitors weren’t planning on abandoning that zone they had so much trouble reaching. However, in the end, that three-month streak was broken.
The start couldn’t have been more hopeful for Atlético de Madrid. After a few minutes where the two teams were sizing each other up, the ‘rojiblancos’ scored on their first attack. Reyes took a free kick to the near post, Tiago got a touch on it, Toño punched away and Mario first timed from the top of the area, ripping in a perfect shot inside the post for a 0-1 lead. Mario then celebrated with an emotive gesture as he ran to the bench to grab a jersey with Juanfran’s name and held it up, dedicating the goal to his teammate.
Until that moment, Atlético had been well-positioned on the pitch, with a solid defence, a serious midfield that constructed good attacking play at a pace that caused danger on each offensive movement. In the 12th minute, Koke played through Kun and the Argentine scored, but the goal was called back for an offside call.
The goal was a huge blow to the Cantabrian side, who were at the mercy of Quique Sánchez Flores’ side and didn’t get close to De Gea’s goal until the half-hour mark. A combination between Rosenborg and Giovani ended with a shot from Kennedy in the hands of the ‘rojiblanco’ goalkeeper.
But while Atlético tried to close out the game, with control of the ball in the midfield, though without clear chances, Racing took advantage of a free kick from the wing to equalize. Kennedy fired in a medium-height free kick looking for a teammate that surprised De Gea without touching anybody.
Atlético de Madrid were also playing at Riazor, where Deportivo had just beaten Athletic, a direct rival for the ‘rojiblancos’ in their battle for Europe. But Quique’s men didn’t expect Racing’s second goal to come so soon. Immediately after the half, in the 47th minute, a battle between Domínguez and Rosenborg was won by the home striker, who beat De Gea to the near post.
Quique Sánchez Flores decided it was time to put more attacking power on the pitch with Forlán coming on for Elías. The ‘colchoneros’ pushed forward into Racing territory but had to watch out for counter-attacks and the speed of Giovani, Munitis and Rosenborg. The former Barcelona player forced De Gea into a nice stop in the 54th minute and four minutes later he fired off the left post.
This blazing start startled the visitors, who were unable to find a way to break through the tough defence organized by Marcelino to defend a result that could mathematically save his team from relegation. The roles were switched as the first half had belonged to the ‘rojiblancos’, but now the second had a clear green color as Racing had taken the lead with two quick goals.
As hard as Atlético de Madrid tried, Racing were able to close the gaps and protect their goalkeeper, keeping the visitors from fighting back and going to bed in fifth place. Now they’ll have to wait for their last two fixtures against Hércules and Mallorca to see if they can finish in fifth or sixth place.
RACING DE SANTANDER, 2 (Kennedy and Rosenberg); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Mario Suárez)
Racing: Toño; Pinillos, Henrique, Álvaro, Cisma; Kennedy (Francis, 82’), Tziolis, Lacen, Munitis (Christian, 66’); Giovani (Luque, 71’) and Rosenberg.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Valera, Ujfalusi, Domínguez, Antonio López (Filipe Luis, 80’); Mario Suárez, Tiago (Fran Mérida, 84’); Elías (Forlán, 56’), Reyes, Koke; and Agüero.
Referee: González González. For Racing showed yellow cards to Álvaro (19’) and Toño (92’); for Atlético booked Ujfalusi (42’) and Reyes (74’).
Game Notes: Round 36 of the National League Championship. Estadio Nuevo Sardinero. 16,428 spectators.
GOALS:
0-1. 10’. Reyes takes a corner kick, it deflects off Tiago at the near post, Toño punches away and Mario Suárez, from the top of the area, unleashes a fierce shot that goes just inside the right post.
1-1. 38’. Kennedy takes a free kick from the side that doesn’t touch anybody and bounces tightly into the left post of a surprised De Gea.
2-1. 47’. Through ball from Dos Santos for Rosenberg, who battles with Domínguez, who is unable to clear, and the Racing striker beats De Gea on the ground.
Atlético de Madrid and Racing de Santander had more that just three points on the line at El Sardinero in the 36th round of La Liga. The ‘rojiblancos’ needed a win to bolster their chances of finishing in one of the two spots that gives direct access to Europa League. Nobody within the organization from the Vicente Calderón wants to finish in seventh place, which would force them to play a qualifying round on July 28th and August 4th. For the Cantabrian side, they wanted to mathematically ensure their spot in the top flight and ended up winning the three points, which allowed them to achieve their goal.
The match had enough incentives in itself, although some players wanted to dedicate a victory to important people. The home side had its thoughts on the memory of the greatest Spanish golfer of all-time, Severiano Ballesteros, who passed away on Saturday after a nearly four-year battle against cancer. Racing de Santander, filled with pride to have count him amongst their supporters, paid an emotional homage to the golfer before the game, which Atlético de Madrid also took part in. Both teams took the pitch wearing shirts with the name of the golfer. The ‘rojiblancos’, underneath that shirt, wore another in support of Juanfran, who lost his father on Sunday due to a sudden heart attack.
Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads arrived in Santander with a phenomenal three month unbeaten streak on the road, the last time being a 3-0 loss at Camp Nou to Barcelona. Since then, Atlético de Madrid hadn’t lose, earning three victories (Zaragoza, 0-1; Osasuna, 2-3; and Deportivo, 0-1) and three drags (Getafe, 1-1; Almería, 2-2; and Espanyol, 2-2). That’s six consecutive matches without losing away from home which boosted them up the table into European spots. The visitors weren’t planning on abandoning that zone they had so much trouble reaching. However, in the end, that three-month streak was broken.
The start couldn’t have been more hopeful for Atlético de Madrid. After a few minutes where the two teams were sizing each other up, the ‘rojiblancos’ scored on their first attack. Reyes took a free kick to the near post, Tiago got a touch on it, Toño punched away and Mario first timed from the top of the area, ripping in a perfect shot inside the post for a 0-1 lead. Mario then celebrated with an emotive gesture as he ran to the bench to grab a jersey with Juanfran’s name and held it up, dedicating the goal to his teammate.
Until that moment, Atlético had been well-positioned on the pitch, with a solid defence, a serious midfield that constructed good attacking play at a pace that caused danger on each offensive movement. In the 12th minute, Koke played through Kun and the Argentine scored, but the goal was called back for an offside call.
The goal was a huge blow to the Cantabrian side, who were at the mercy of Quique Sánchez Flores’ side and didn’t get close to De Gea’s goal until the half-hour mark. A combination between Rosenborg and Giovani ended with a shot from Kennedy in the hands of the ‘rojiblanco’ goalkeeper.
But while Atlético tried to close out the game, with control of the ball in the midfield, though without clear chances, Racing took advantage of a free kick from the wing to equalize. Kennedy fired in a medium-height free kick looking for a teammate that surprised De Gea without touching anybody.
Atlético de Madrid were also playing at Riazor, where Deportivo had just beaten Athletic, a direct rival for the ‘rojiblancos’ in their battle for Europe. But Quique’s men didn’t expect Racing’s second goal to come so soon. Immediately after the half, in the 47th minute, a battle between Domínguez and Rosenborg was won by the home striker, who beat De Gea to the near post.
Quique Sánchez Flores decided it was time to put more attacking power on the pitch with Forlán coming on for Elías. The ‘colchoneros’ pushed forward into Racing territory but had to watch out for counter-attacks and the speed of Giovani, Munitis and Rosenborg. The former Barcelona player forced De Gea into a nice stop in the 54th minute and four minutes later he fired off the left post.
This blazing start startled the visitors, who were unable to find a way to break through the tough defence organized by Marcelino to defend a result that could mathematically save his team from relegation. The roles were switched as the first half had belonged to the ‘rojiblancos’, but now the second had a clear green color as Racing had taken the lead with two quick goals.
As hard as Atlético de Madrid tried, Racing were able to close the gaps and protect their goalkeeper, keeping the visitors from fighting back and going to bed in fifth place. Now they’ll have to wait for their last two fixtures against Hércules and Mallorca to see if they can finish in fifth or sixth place.
RACING DE SANTANDER, 2 (Kennedy and Rosenberg); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Mario Suárez)
Racing: Toño; Pinillos, Henrique, Álvaro, Cisma; Kennedy (Francis, 82’), Tziolis, Lacen, Munitis (Christian, 66’); Giovani (Luque, 71’) and Rosenberg.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Valera, Ujfalusi, Domínguez, Antonio López (Filipe Luis, 80’); Mario Suárez, Tiago (Fran Mérida, 84’); Elías (Forlán, 56’), Reyes, Koke; and Agüero.
Referee: González González. For Racing showed yellow cards to Álvaro (19’) and Toño (92’); for Atlético booked Ujfalusi (42’) and Reyes (74’).
Game Notes: Round 36 of the National League Championship. Estadio Nuevo Sardinero. 16,428 spectators.
GOALS:
0-1. 10’. Reyes takes a corner kick, it deflects off Tiago at the near post, Toño punches away and Mario Suárez, from the top of the area, unleashes a fierce shot that goes just inside the right post.
1-1. 38’. Kennedy takes a free kick from the side that doesn’t touch anybody and bounces tightly into the left post of a surprised De Gea.
2-1. 47’. Through ball from Dos Santos for Rosenberg, who battles with Domínguez, who is unable to clear, and the Racing striker beats De Gea on the ground.
