A great win before the game against City
A good victory for our team, which took place in the second half. João Félix opened the scoring, Escalante equalized and in a dazzling reaction, Luis Suárez, on penalty, again João Félix and the Uruguayan sealed the victory.
The match against Alavés at the Wanda Metropolitano was a very emotional one. An emotional minute of silence was observed in memory of Carlos Simeone, father of our coach, who recently passed away. And very soon the team looked for the goal, with vertical and deep play that hurt the team from Vitoria. One would come in the 10th minute, after a good play started by Kondogbia with a pass to the left to Lodi, who crossed and Lemar shot into the net in the small area. Melero Lopez disallowed it for offside by Lodi.
But the goal that did make the scoreboard would arrive a minute later, with Vrsaljko's run down the right with a cross to the heart of the area that João Félix headed into the net with an unassailable header. A goal that rewarded the dazzling start of our team. However, the match went through a phase with many interruptions and lack of chances on both sides, until after half an hour of play João Félix tried to surprise Pacheco with a shot that crashed into the side of the net. The score was 1-0 at halftime.
The second half started with two changes for each team and with the match taking on more color. On the quarter of an hour it was De Paul, one of those who had entered at halftime, who tried his luck after a corner kick but his shot was saved by Pacheco. In the 62nd minute, Llorente, after a good team play, hit a shot that missed the right post of the Alaves goal. However, Mendilibar's men did manage to equalize with their first shot on target. A cross from Edgar Méndez was headed into the net by Escalante. It was time to push on in search of the three points.
The team gritted their teeth and went for the game. With Luis Suárez and Cunha on the field, the second goal came from a play originally created by Luis Suárez, with a deep pass to Cunha. The Brazilian dribbled Lejeune inside the area and was brought down. A clear penalty that Luis Suárez converted. But the team wanted more and a great play by João Félix ended with a cross into the area for Cunha to finish, Pacheco saved but the Portuguese, who was following the play, put the finishing touch to his match with the 3-1. There was time for the fourth in a phenomenal play with a pass from Cunha to Luis Suárez, who crossed in front of the Alaves goalkeeper. On Tuesday, the next game is the first leg of the quarterfinals at the Ettihad against Manchester City.
