Atlético beat Espanyol and will travel to Cornellá-El Prat with a slight lead (1-0)
Portuguese Simão scores the lone goal of the match from the penalty spot
Atlético de Madrid beat Espanyol by the minimum score (1-0) in the round of 16 first leg Copa del Rey match. This tiny lead won’t let them relax at Cornellá-El Prat, where they’ll have to fight for the full 90 minutes to qualify for the quarterfinals of this competition. A penalty kick fired home by Simão Sabrosa was a fine and ideal farewell for the Atlético de Madrid player in his final match in the red-and-white.
Quique Sánchez Flores’ squad went into the Cup tie with the good feelings left over from the last two League encounters against Deportivo and Málaga. The opening minutes were spent with both sides trying to get a feel of each other. The Madrid side wanted to possess the ball, but it was very difficult due to the water sitting on the pitch after the heavy rainfall from recent days. The visiting manager seemed to have a different game plan than the one from the La Liga fixture several weeks ago in which the ‘pericos’ left victorious. Pochettino made six changes in the starting line-up with respect to that match. For his part, Quique had Diego Forlán back in the squad after the Uruguayan had sat out the previous league match against Málaga.
In the first minutes, the Catalan side appeared secure and patient up against the chances from the home team. In minute 11, José Antonio Reyes created the first clear opportunity for Atlético. The winger linked up with Ujfalusi to create danger, as was able to get off a right-footed shot from the top of the area, but Cristian Álvarez made a nice save.
Striker Diego Forlán had to leave his spot on the pitch to Diego Costa early on after spraining his right ankle. That complicated Quique’s plans, although the Brazilian came out working hard and performed well both attacking and defending. Kun almost tallied the opener shortly after Reyes’ chance, but the Argentinean’s diagonal shot went just wide of the far post. Around the twenty-minute mark, the rain started to fall heavily in Spain’s capital and that accelerated the pace of the play.
Atlético de Madrid picked things up and little-by-little approached the goal defended by Cristian Álvarez. First Kun Agüero and then Diego Costa brought danger to the visiting area, although the Catalan club didn’t want to sit back and defend. Osvaldo and Márquez quickly put De Gea to the test. The match turned into a back-and-forth race with chances for both teams and passing imprecision in all parts of the field.
But fortune sided with Quique’s lads when Fernández Borbalán called a penalty after seeing Amat handle the ball inside the area. The ensuing spot kick was fired home by Portuguese winger Simão, sending Cristian Álvarez the wrong way. It was undoubtedly a great way for the footballer to say farewell to the Atleti faithful. In minute 36, Osvaldo almost silenced the ‘rojiblanco’ joy, but De Gea made an amazing kick-save to deny him. Five minutes from the halftime whistle, José Antontio Reyes was sent off. He was fouled by Dátolo and, as he got up, turned into him and knocked him over, drawing a red card, while the Espanyol player was only shown yellow. Quique’s men were left with ten in another setback for the Atlético manager.
The second half was an unknown for the home team, as they were forced to play a man down. Espanyol knew that they could break the game open with a numeric superiority that was soon transferred to their greater control on the pitch. Agüero was the only reference point in attack for the ‘rojiblancos’, as Diego Costa dropped back his position a bit. The match started to get a bit crazy. Atlético leaned on the lone figure of Kun Agüero in attack, as the Atleti ‘10’ fought the entire Espanyol defence by himself with nerve, but without luck.
But football is full of amazing things. After taking a tough blow to his right hand, De Gea turned around and made a near impossible stop with the same hand on an Osvaldo header, preventing the Espanyol equaliser. Once again, the goalkeeper from nearby Illescas showed his class and skill to get the fans at the Calderón on their feet. Balance was restored when the referee sent off Víctor Ruíz for a second yellow card after tripping Kun. The best chance for Atlético de Madrid in the second half came right after this expulsion when poor judgment on a cross from Cristian Álvarez allowed Domínguez, first, and then Kun to get off shots, though both were off target. A goal there would have lent calm to the qualifying tie for Atleti, who lamented the missed opportunity. The game became a bit wild as the players picked up the intensity level. Osvaldo again had a chance to level in the 80th minute, but his strong shot surprisingly sailed over the crossbar.
With a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard and after two more chances for Kun, who played a great game, the final whistle was blown. Therefore, Atlético will have to travel to Barcelona with this slight advantage with the intention of winning and getting to the next round, where Real Madrid would be awaiting them after destroying Levante 8-0 in their first leg match.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Simão, penalty); ESPANYOL, 0.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Assunçao, Simão (Raúl García, 82’), Reyes; Kun Agüero (Fran Mérida, 90’) and Forlán (Diego Costa, 13’).
Espanyol: Cristian Álvarez; Chica, Amat, Víctor Ruiz, David; Baena, Javi Márquez (Callejón, 46’); Sergio García (Forlín, 69’), J. Verdú, Dátolo (Álvaro, 76’) and Osvaldo.
Referee: Fernández Borbalán. For Atlético de Madrid showed yellow cards to Kun Agüero (34’), Ujfalusi (47’) and Filipe (64’) and direct red to Reyes (40’); for Espanyol booked Javi Márquez (20’), Amat (31’), Dátolo (40’) and sent off Víctor Ruíz for two yellow cards (48’ and 66’).
Incidents: Estadio Vicente Calderón. First leg round of 16 match in the Copa de Rey. Minutes before kick-off, Diego Forlán offered the Golden Ball as best player of the 2010 South Africa World Cup to the Atlético de Madrid supporters.
Goals:
1-0 (32’). Simão scores on a penalty kick, beating Cristian Álvarez high and to the left.
Quique Sánchez Flores’ squad went into the Cup tie with the good feelings left over from the last two League encounters against Deportivo and Málaga. The opening minutes were spent with both sides trying to get a feel of each other. The Madrid side wanted to possess the ball, but it was very difficult due to the water sitting on the pitch after the heavy rainfall from recent days. The visiting manager seemed to have a different game plan than the one from the La Liga fixture several weeks ago in which the ‘pericos’ left victorious. Pochettino made six changes in the starting line-up with respect to that match. For his part, Quique had Diego Forlán back in the squad after the Uruguayan had sat out the previous league match against Málaga.
In the first minutes, the Catalan side appeared secure and patient up against the chances from the home team. In minute 11, José Antonio Reyes created the first clear opportunity for Atlético. The winger linked up with Ujfalusi to create danger, as was able to get off a right-footed shot from the top of the area, but Cristian Álvarez made a nice save.
Striker Diego Forlán had to leave his spot on the pitch to Diego Costa early on after spraining his right ankle. That complicated Quique’s plans, although the Brazilian came out working hard and performed well both attacking and defending. Kun almost tallied the opener shortly after Reyes’ chance, but the Argentinean’s diagonal shot went just wide of the far post. Around the twenty-minute mark, the rain started to fall heavily in Spain’s capital and that accelerated the pace of the play.
Atlético de Madrid picked things up and little-by-little approached the goal defended by Cristian Álvarez. First Kun Agüero and then Diego Costa brought danger to the visiting area, although the Catalan club didn’t want to sit back and defend. Osvaldo and Márquez quickly put De Gea to the test. The match turned into a back-and-forth race with chances for both teams and passing imprecision in all parts of the field.
But fortune sided with Quique’s lads when Fernández Borbalán called a penalty after seeing Amat handle the ball inside the area. The ensuing spot kick was fired home by Portuguese winger Simão, sending Cristian Álvarez the wrong way. It was undoubtedly a great way for the footballer to say farewell to the Atleti faithful. In minute 36, Osvaldo almost silenced the ‘rojiblanco’ joy, but De Gea made an amazing kick-save to deny him. Five minutes from the halftime whistle, José Antontio Reyes was sent off. He was fouled by Dátolo and, as he got up, turned into him and knocked him over, drawing a red card, while the Espanyol player was only shown yellow. Quique’s men were left with ten in another setback for the Atlético manager.
The second half was an unknown for the home team, as they were forced to play a man down. Espanyol knew that they could break the game open with a numeric superiority that was soon transferred to their greater control on the pitch. Agüero was the only reference point in attack for the ‘rojiblancos’, as Diego Costa dropped back his position a bit. The match started to get a bit crazy. Atlético leaned on the lone figure of Kun Agüero in attack, as the Atleti ‘10’ fought the entire Espanyol defence by himself with nerve, but without luck.
But football is full of amazing things. After taking a tough blow to his right hand, De Gea turned around and made a near impossible stop with the same hand on an Osvaldo header, preventing the Espanyol equaliser. Once again, the goalkeeper from nearby Illescas showed his class and skill to get the fans at the Calderón on their feet. Balance was restored when the referee sent off Víctor Ruíz for a second yellow card after tripping Kun. The best chance for Atlético de Madrid in the second half came right after this expulsion when poor judgment on a cross from Cristian Álvarez allowed Domínguez, first, and then Kun to get off shots, though both were off target. A goal there would have lent calm to the qualifying tie for Atleti, who lamented the missed opportunity. The game became a bit wild as the players picked up the intensity level. Osvaldo again had a chance to level in the 80th minute, but his strong shot surprisingly sailed over the crossbar.
With a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard and after two more chances for Kun, who played a great game, the final whistle was blown. Therefore, Atlético will have to travel to Barcelona with this slight advantage with the intention of winning and getting to the next round, where Real Madrid would be awaiting them after destroying Levante 8-0 in their first leg match.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Simão, penalty); ESPANYOL, 0.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Assunçao, Simão (Raúl García, 82’), Reyes; Kun Agüero (Fran Mérida, 90’) and Forlán (Diego Costa, 13’).
Espanyol: Cristian Álvarez; Chica, Amat, Víctor Ruiz, David; Baena, Javi Márquez (Callejón, 46’); Sergio García (Forlín, 69’), J. Verdú, Dátolo (Álvaro, 76’) and Osvaldo.
Referee: Fernández Borbalán. For Atlético de Madrid showed yellow cards to Kun Agüero (34’), Ujfalusi (47’) and Filipe (64’) and direct red to Reyes (40’); for Espanyol booked Javi Márquez (20’), Amat (31’), Dátolo (40’) and sent off Víctor Ruíz for two yellow cards (48’ and 66’).
Incidents: Estadio Vicente Calderón. First leg round of 16 match in the Copa de Rey. Minutes before kick-off, Diego Forlán offered the Golden Ball as best player of the 2010 South Africa World Cup to the Atlético de Madrid supporters.
Goals:
1-0 (32’). Simão scores on a penalty kick, beating Cristian Álvarez high and to the left.
