Atlético de Madrid are the better side and blow by Real Sociedad (2-4)
Brace for Kun and goals from Forlán and Simão, the last from the penalty spot
Atlético de Madrid broke all the statistics at Anoeta. They had to win and did so in grand fashion, with plenty of goals, although they should have taken the lead much earlier than before the home stretch of the encounter. Real Sociedad ended up giving way in the second half and were at the mercy of the ‘rojiblanco’ players. Quique Sánchez Flores’ lads showed off their most lethal side at the right moment and knocked out a good opponent that forced the visitors to work hard for the victory.
Atlético de Madrid were aware that if they wanted to keep their hopes of finishing the first half of league play in European spots alive, they’d have to make a statement at Anoeta and show their credentials against a team they hadn’t beaten in San Sebastian since 1991, in the since-destroyed Estadio de Atocha, with a 0-2 win. A long time had passed since then and both Real and Atleti has been through ups-and-downs. Things have gone a bit better for the side from Madrid, as they won the Copa del Rey that season as well as the next, and the Double a few years later, and then the Europa League first and then the European Super Cup later in 2010.
Since their victory at San Mamés on their first road trip of the current season (1-2 with goals from Forlán and Tiago), Quique Sánchez Flores’ men had only scratched out a draw against Valencia (1-1 with goal from Simão) at Mestalla. The rest of their away matches had ended in losses (Sevilla, Real Madrid and Villarreal), so their pending assignment was away from home and they needed to win to take off in this aspect and begin to cut down the distance with their most direct rivals. And the second victory came in San Sebastian against Real Sociedad, where Atlético played a good game and were better than their opponent.
Atlético de Madrid hadn’t made an appearance at Anoeta, one of the stadiums which had given them the most trouble in First Division, in three years. Not in vain, the only ‘rojiblanco’ victory there had been in the Copa del Rey during the 98-99 season. In all of their league visits to Anoeta, none of them had resulted in a win for Atlético de Madrid. On the other hand, optimism was shining on the side from the capital, as Quique Sánchez Flores hadn’t lost to the ‘donostiarras’ as manager of Getafe and Valencia, with a balance of four victories and two draws. And the coach’s streak continued, while Atlético finally broke their drought and now knows what it is to win at Anoeta.
And as the ‘rojiblanco’ manager himself said during his pre-game press conference, statistics are made to be broken. That’s the mentality with which Atlético arrived at Anoeta. They also had a full squad, without injured or suspended players after many weeks in which they suffered the loss of some of them for one reason or another. With the infirmary clear of injuries, Quique Sánchez Flores even had to drop players for the trip up north.
The match began in exciting fashion, with Atlético well stuck in, with control of the ball, but without creating dangerous attacks. Martín Lasarte had predicted a match of these conditions, allowing their opponent to take the initiative and mounting quick counter-attacks to do damage. And that’s how the first goal arrived. A move down the left from Griezmann ended with a low cross into the middle that was pushed into the net by Ujfalusi as he tried to prevent Llorente from getting to the ball. The ‘rojiblancos’ appealed for a foul, but Ayza Gámez didn’t see anything and booked the Czech defender for dissent.
The Sociedad goal knocked Atlético out for around ten minutes. During that lapse of time, Martín Lasarte’s squad had two chances to have increased the lead, but on the first De Gea made a fine save against Llorente, and on the second the striker’s shot went just wide.
Atlético picked themselves back up and continued to play the ball with sound judgment and started to attack Bravo’s goal. First, Ujfalusi forced the Chilean netminder into a save off a corner kick in the 23rd minute. In minute 34 Agüero shot from the top of the area, but his shot breezed just past the post. Two minutes later Forlán tried his luck but ran into Bravo, although the best chances were yet to come.
After having the match under control with Real Sociedad huddled back in their area and feeling the pressure, as they quickly lost the ball, three golden chances came from the ‘rojiblancos’ in the final stretch of the first half. First, Mario Suárez had a good header off a corner kick, but it was wrapped up by the goalkeeper. Then, in the 44th minutes, Bravo made the save of the night when he got a miraculous hand on a tremendous rifled shot from Tiago from distance. In the final minute Forlán tried from afar without luck.
After the break, Atlético de Madrid came out gunning and made a change in the back line. Perea moved over to the centre and Ujfalusi switched over to right fullback. Other than a shot from Griezmann that was saved by De Gea, ball possession was completely dominated by Quique Sánchez’s club, and the scoring chances began to come. Tiago, twice, Forlán and Simão created the prelude for the avalanche of goals that was about to arrive.
In the 70th minute, a home-made classic counter-attack allowed Atleti to draw level. Reyes played long ball to Agüero, who controlled, dribbled past his defender on the right, and crossed to Forlán in the middle who drilled his shot into the back of the net. Then in a two-minute span, from the 79th to the 81st, Atlético delivered a lethal blow to their opponent. Again on two quick strikes, Agüero pretty much put things in the bag. But then it was tough for Atlético to finish off the match with calm. A former ‘rojiblanco’ prodigee, Diego Rivas, gave his team life with a goal in minute 85, but a fine play from Reyes led to a penalty, the first in favour of the ‘rojiblancos’ in league play this season. Simão ripped hom the ensuing spot kick to serve justice to what was seen in the match.
In summary, Quique Sánchez Flores still hasn’t lost to Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid shattered their jinx at Anoeta. They had already won there in the Copa del Rey during the 98-99 season, and now they’ve done so for the first time in La Liga. The European spots are right there, within arm’s reach, and on Saturday Espanyol, a direct rival, comes to the Calderón.
REAL SOCIEDAD, 2 (Ujfalusi, own goal, and Diego Rivas); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 4 (Agüero, 2, Forlán and Simão, penalty)
Real Sociedad: Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Ansotegi, Mikel González, De la Bella; Rivas, Aranburu (Sarpong, 81’); Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza, Griezmann (Labaka, 63’); and Llorente (Tamudo, 75’).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Perea, Ujfalusi, Godín, Antonio López; Reyes, Mario Suárez (Raúl García, 75’), Tiago, Simão; Agüero (Diego Costa, 84’) and Forlán (Assunçao, 90’).
Referee: Ayza Gámez. For the home team showed yellow cards to Aranburu (55’) and Ansotegi (73’); for Atlético booked Ujfalusi (11’) and Mario Suárez (67’).
Incidents: Estadio Anoeta. Around 25,000 spectators. Matchday 12 of the National League Championship. Atlético de Madrid was represented in the Director’s Box by Mr. Lázaro Albarracín, Vice-President of the Social Department, Mr. Miguel Pérez, Shareholder, Mr. Clemente Villaverde, Executive, and Mr. Jesús García Pitarch, Sports Director. Fran Mérida was the player left off the matchday roster.
GOALS:
1-0. 11’. Cross from Griezmann from the left and Ujfalusi taps the ball into his own net as he tries to clear.
1-1. 70’. Counter-attack led by Reyes with a long pass to Agüero, who crosses for Forlán to finish inside the six-yard box.
1-2. 79’. Forlán opens up for Ujfalusi on the right and the Czech’s cross is first-timed in by Agüero.
1-3. 81’. Wonderful pass from Tiago for Forlán, who shots on an onrushing Bravo, the ball falls to Agüero, who spins and scores with a high shot.
2-3. 85’. Rivas rips a strong shot from the top of the area and beats De Gea.
2-4. 94’. Simão puts away a penalty commited by Mikel González on Reyes.
Atlético de Madrid were aware that if they wanted to keep their hopes of finishing the first half of league play in European spots alive, they’d have to make a statement at Anoeta and show their credentials against a team they hadn’t beaten in San Sebastian since 1991, in the since-destroyed Estadio de Atocha, with a 0-2 win. A long time had passed since then and both Real and Atleti has been through ups-and-downs. Things have gone a bit better for the side from Madrid, as they won the Copa del Rey that season as well as the next, and the Double a few years later, and then the Europa League first and then the European Super Cup later in 2010.
Since their victory at San Mamés on their first road trip of the current season (1-2 with goals from Forlán and Tiago), Quique Sánchez Flores’ men had only scratched out a draw against Valencia (1-1 with goal from Simão) at Mestalla. The rest of their away matches had ended in losses (Sevilla, Real Madrid and Villarreal), so their pending assignment was away from home and they needed to win to take off in this aspect and begin to cut down the distance with their most direct rivals. And the second victory came in San Sebastian against Real Sociedad, where Atlético played a good game and were better than their opponent.
Atlético de Madrid hadn’t made an appearance at Anoeta, one of the stadiums which had given them the most trouble in First Division, in three years. Not in vain, the only ‘rojiblanco’ victory there had been in the Copa del Rey during the 98-99 season. In all of their league visits to Anoeta, none of them had resulted in a win for Atlético de Madrid. On the other hand, optimism was shining on the side from the capital, as Quique Sánchez Flores hadn’t lost to the ‘donostiarras’ as manager of Getafe and Valencia, with a balance of four victories and two draws. And the coach’s streak continued, while Atlético finally broke their drought and now knows what it is to win at Anoeta.
And as the ‘rojiblanco’ manager himself said during his pre-game press conference, statistics are made to be broken. That’s the mentality with which Atlético arrived at Anoeta. They also had a full squad, without injured or suspended players after many weeks in which they suffered the loss of some of them for one reason or another. With the infirmary clear of injuries, Quique Sánchez Flores even had to drop players for the trip up north.
The match began in exciting fashion, with Atlético well stuck in, with control of the ball, but without creating dangerous attacks. Martín Lasarte had predicted a match of these conditions, allowing their opponent to take the initiative and mounting quick counter-attacks to do damage. And that’s how the first goal arrived. A move down the left from Griezmann ended with a low cross into the middle that was pushed into the net by Ujfalusi as he tried to prevent Llorente from getting to the ball. The ‘rojiblancos’ appealed for a foul, but Ayza Gámez didn’t see anything and booked the Czech defender for dissent.
The Sociedad goal knocked Atlético out for around ten minutes. During that lapse of time, Martín Lasarte’s squad had two chances to have increased the lead, but on the first De Gea made a fine save against Llorente, and on the second the striker’s shot went just wide.
Atlético picked themselves back up and continued to play the ball with sound judgment and started to attack Bravo’s goal. First, Ujfalusi forced the Chilean netminder into a save off a corner kick in the 23rd minute. In minute 34 Agüero shot from the top of the area, but his shot breezed just past the post. Two minutes later Forlán tried his luck but ran into Bravo, although the best chances were yet to come.
After having the match under control with Real Sociedad huddled back in their area and feeling the pressure, as they quickly lost the ball, three golden chances came from the ‘rojiblancos’ in the final stretch of the first half. First, Mario Suárez had a good header off a corner kick, but it was wrapped up by the goalkeeper. Then, in the 44th minutes, Bravo made the save of the night when he got a miraculous hand on a tremendous rifled shot from Tiago from distance. In the final minute Forlán tried from afar without luck.
After the break, Atlético de Madrid came out gunning and made a change in the back line. Perea moved over to the centre and Ujfalusi switched over to right fullback. Other than a shot from Griezmann that was saved by De Gea, ball possession was completely dominated by Quique Sánchez’s club, and the scoring chances began to come. Tiago, twice, Forlán and Simão created the prelude for the avalanche of goals that was about to arrive.
In the 70th minute, a home-made classic counter-attack allowed Atleti to draw level. Reyes played long ball to Agüero, who controlled, dribbled past his defender on the right, and crossed to Forlán in the middle who drilled his shot into the back of the net. Then in a two-minute span, from the 79th to the 81st, Atlético delivered a lethal blow to their opponent. Again on two quick strikes, Agüero pretty much put things in the bag. But then it was tough for Atlético to finish off the match with calm. A former ‘rojiblanco’ prodigee, Diego Rivas, gave his team life with a goal in minute 85, but a fine play from Reyes led to a penalty, the first in favour of the ‘rojiblancos’ in league play this season. Simão ripped hom the ensuing spot kick to serve justice to what was seen in the match.
In summary, Quique Sánchez Flores still hasn’t lost to Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid shattered their jinx at Anoeta. They had already won there in the Copa del Rey during the 98-99 season, and now they’ve done so for the first time in La Liga. The European spots are right there, within arm’s reach, and on Saturday Espanyol, a direct rival, comes to the Calderón.
REAL SOCIEDAD, 2 (Ujfalusi, own goal, and Diego Rivas); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 4 (Agüero, 2, Forlán and Simão, penalty)
Real Sociedad: Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Ansotegi, Mikel González, De la Bella; Rivas, Aranburu (Sarpong, 81’); Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza, Griezmann (Labaka, 63’); and Llorente (Tamudo, 75’).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Perea, Ujfalusi, Godín, Antonio López; Reyes, Mario Suárez (Raúl García, 75’), Tiago, Simão; Agüero (Diego Costa, 84’) and Forlán (Assunçao, 90’).
Referee: Ayza Gámez. For the home team showed yellow cards to Aranburu (55’) and Ansotegi (73’); for Atlético booked Ujfalusi (11’) and Mario Suárez (67’).
Incidents: Estadio Anoeta. Around 25,000 spectators. Matchday 12 of the National League Championship. Atlético de Madrid was represented in the Director’s Box by Mr. Lázaro Albarracín, Vice-President of the Social Department, Mr. Miguel Pérez, Shareholder, Mr. Clemente Villaverde, Executive, and Mr. Jesús García Pitarch, Sports Director. Fran Mérida was the player left off the matchday roster.
GOALS:
1-0. 11’. Cross from Griezmann from the left and Ujfalusi taps the ball into his own net as he tries to clear.
1-1. 70’. Counter-attack led by Reyes with a long pass to Agüero, who crosses for Forlán to finish inside the six-yard box.
1-2. 79’. Forlán opens up for Ujfalusi on the right and the Czech’s cross is first-timed in by Agüero.
1-3. 81’. Wonderful pass from Tiago for Forlán, who shots on an onrushing Bravo, the ball falls to Agüero, who spins and scores with a high shot.
2-3. 85’. Rivas rips a strong shot from the top of the area and beats De Gea.
2-4. 94’. Simão puts away a penalty commited by Mikel González on Reyes.