Atleti win first 21/22 pre-season friendly on penalties
Our team won the penalty shootout against Numancia after the first 90’ ended 1-1. Soriano scored our goal.
Atleti beat Numancia on penalties in the first friendly game of the pre-season on Friday. The first 90’ ended 1-1.
Soriano scored early as put us in front as Giuliano provided the assist. We led for the next half hour, during which neither side had any big chances. However, Numancia equalised in the 32nd minute through a fantastic strike. Atleti had a good chance to score just before half-time, again through Soriano, but his shot was off target.
Simeone made eight changes during the break, as Grbić, Riquelme, Marcos Paulo, Camus, Fran González, Montero, Borja Garcés and Javi Serrano came on for Oblak, Camello, Saúl, Ricard, Hermoso, Alberto Moreno, Soriano and Valera. Garcés was very close to scoring in the 55th minute, but the keeper made a fine save to deny the striker’s header. Unfortunately, Fran González was forced to leave the pitch not long after he came on. He was replaced by Arias. Simeone made a double substitution with 20’ to go, as Rojas and Saponjic came on for Medrano and Giuliano. Numancia had two good chances shortly thereafter. The first was saved in style by Grbic and the second struck the crossbar. Most of our chances came through Marcos Paulo, who was very active down the left wing.
Although we tried to score the winner until the end, the game ended 1-1 and it was decided by a penalty shootout. Atleti won after Camus scored our seventh and final penalty.
