All square at the Madrigal
Atletico Madrid drew against Villareal after leading all game thanks to an own goal from Mario. However, unfortunately Juanfran deflected the ball in to his own in an attempt to clear a shot from Uche. Atletico has a good point in a very complicated game.
VILLAREAL 1-1 ATLETICO
Villareal: Asenjo, Mario, Musacchio, Gabriel, J.Costa, Pina (Trigueros, 60'), Bruno, Cani, H.Pérez (Aquino, 60'), Uche y Pereira (Perbet, 74').
Atlético: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Alderweireld, Insua, Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Raúl García (Arda Turan, 62'), Villa y Diego Costa (Adrián, 82').
Goals:
0-1 . (Min.2) Mario (og).
1-1 . (Min.79) Juanfran (og)
Atletico Madrid came out on to the field of ‘El Madrigal’ to try to get another win to continue at the top end of the table. Diego Pablo Simeone’s men got the goal in the second minute. Juanfran who has been very active throughout the game got to the byline and looked to pull it back to Raul Garcia in the heart of the area, Mario tryied to get there first and put the ball into his own net to make it 0 -1. Despite being at a disadvantage so early on, the team from Castellon was not discouraged and was spurred by their fans but Thibaut Courtois in the Atleti goal was equal to anything thrown at him.
The game was was tense as Villareal looked to get back in to the game against an organised atletico Madrid side who did well to keep them at bay. In the closing minutes of the first half they were desperately seeking an equaliser, Marcelino men tried from distance with shots from Pina, Mario and Cani who all put pressure on the goal of Thibaut Courtois. However, the Atleti defense led by Miranda and Alderweireld did well to keep the home side out and went in at the break with a 1-0 lead.
With the start of the second half the fight in the center of the field was even greater than in the first 45 minutes. Marcelino and Simeone knew that the meeting was going to be a toughly fought one and the intensity of both teams lived up to it.
Arda Turan was brought on, returning after three weeks of inactivity due to injury as he looked to change the game. Sat in the midfield with Koke, the Turkish wizard took control the game although he couldn’t find the goal to give Atletico the breathing space they needed.
Villareal found the goal after great play from Perbet, who crossed for Uche who looked to turn it home but Juanfran got there before him and unfortunately turned it into the Atletico goal.
None of the teams looked to settle for the draw in the dying stages and it remained all square with a point being a fair result, an important point that keeps Atletico up at the top of the table.
