Atlético de Madrid beat Hércules and clinch a European spot (2-1)
Domínguez and Reyes score the goals at the Vicente Calderón
Atlético de Madrid defeated Hércules with goals from Álvaro Domínguez and José Antonio Reyes. This victory allows the ‘rojiblancos’ to ensure themselves of a spot in Europe next season. Now they will face Mallorca and try to finish in either fifth or sixth place, which would mean that they would avoid having to play a qualifier for the Europa League.
The fans at the Vicente Calderón expected a lot after the loss to Racing Santander mid-week. The side from Madrid knew that they had no other choice but to win and earn the three points at a time when the team’s goal was at stake. With Forlán not included on the roster, it was Reyes who accompanied Kun Agüero in attack. Facing them was a team that had nothing on the line and five reserve players in the line-up.
Things couldn’t have started better for Atlético. In the opening minute of play, Álvaro Domínguez gave the home team the lead after an assist from Kun Agüero, who had picked up a rebound. The goal was a bucket of cold water for the visitors, who had already been relegated and were seeing things in other colors. Atlético wanted to take advantage of that and were able to do so in the opening minutes. Hércules tried to fight back in the next few minutes on set pieces.
In the 11th minute, Kun Agüero almost tallied the second after a nice run down the wing from Valera. The Argentine’s shot ended in the hands of Velthuizen. Quique’s lads insisted on attacking, as they wanted to finish La Liga at home with a good taste in their mouths. The three points were essential to making it to Europe. Just as in his best games, Reyes was lively and active. He started a great chance by playing through Juanfran, but the Spaniard was unable to notch the second.
The fact is that Djukic’s men wanted to play well, but were unable to. Atlético de Madrid had complete control and Hércules were only able to create danger on set pieces. The ‘rojiblanco’ defence felt safe until the 29th minute, when Iturralde González pointed to the penalty spot after Pulido brought down A. Paz. It was time for David De Gea to shine. Once again, the home grown goalkeeper came out in defence of his squad and stopped Trezeguet’s spot kick. This brought the fans to their feet and led them to chant De Gea’s name. It seemed like luck, this time, was allied with the home team.
After the half-hour mark, Kun wanted to make the difference. The ‘rojiblanco’ forward unleashed a strong diagonal shot that almost went into Velthuizen’s goal. The connection between Kun and Reyes was working well and this benefitted the team. A great shot from Koke five minutes before the halftime whistle thundered off the corner of the crossbar.
The second half began as the first ended. Atlético held possession of the ball and Hércules followed their rhythm. The visitors pushed up their lines to try and put more pressure on the home side, but the circumstances weren’t the best. The fact is that everyone was paying attention to their radios, which is typical in the final weeks. The squad from Madrid had to focus on their match, but it was inevitable to look in at other stadiums.
The game dropped in intensity level in the second half. There weren’t many scoring chances in either area. In the 62nd minute, the Atlético faithful got on their feet when a free kick from Portillo crashed off the crossbar. This boosted the confidence of the visitors. Shortly thereafter, Trezeguet nabbed the equalizer off a corner kick that Juara flicked on at the near post. The Frenchman got behind Pulido and changed the looks on the faces of the Atleti players.
But the joy didn’t last long for the side from Alicante. José Antonio Reyes returned the happiness to the stands. In the 70th minute he pounced on a rebound from Velthuizen after a Kun Agüero shot and volleyed home from the top of the area to give Atlético de Madrid the lead once again. It was the icing on the cake for Reyes, who had been playing a good game. With the lead on the scoreboard, Atleti didn’t step off the gas. They wanted to build on their advantage, but Hércules were making things difficult. A chance from Kun and another from Juanfran in the waning moments saw the match to its end. Atlético will have to make this win stand up in the final week of the season against Mallorca. With the three points in the bag, the protagonist was Quique Sánchez Flores, who received a large ovation from the public, who wanted to acknowledge his work at his final home game as manager of Atlético de Madrid.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 2 (Domínguez and Reyes); HÉRCULES, 1 (Trezeguet).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Valera, Pulido, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Mario Suárez, Tiago (Assunçao, 78’), Juanfran, Koke (Elías, 82’); Reyes (Noguera, 91’) and Kun Agüero.
Hércules: Velthuizen; Cortés, A. Paz, Juanra, Peña; Farinós (Fritzler, 79’), Pamarot; Kiko, Tiago Gomes, Portillo and Trezeguet.
Referee: Iturralde González. For Atlético de Madrid, booked Pulido (29’); for Hércules warned Cortés (16’) and Juanra (90’).
Incidencias: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Matchday 36 of La Liga BBVA. A minute of silence was held in memory of the victims of the earthquakes in Lorca and for the father of Juanfran.
Goals:
1-0 (1’). Domínguez gives Atlético the lead after a pass from Kun Agüero.
1-1 (66’). Trezeguet levels off a corner kick.
2-1 (70’). Reyes scores on a volley from the top of the area.
The fans at the Vicente Calderón expected a lot after the loss to Racing Santander mid-week. The side from Madrid knew that they had no other choice but to win and earn the three points at a time when the team’s goal was at stake. With Forlán not included on the roster, it was Reyes who accompanied Kun Agüero in attack. Facing them was a team that had nothing on the line and five reserve players in the line-up.
Things couldn’t have started better for Atlético. In the opening minute of play, Álvaro Domínguez gave the home team the lead after an assist from Kun Agüero, who had picked up a rebound. The goal was a bucket of cold water for the visitors, who had already been relegated and were seeing things in other colors. Atlético wanted to take advantage of that and were able to do so in the opening minutes. Hércules tried to fight back in the next few minutes on set pieces.
In the 11th minute, Kun Agüero almost tallied the second after a nice run down the wing from Valera. The Argentine’s shot ended in the hands of Velthuizen. Quique’s lads insisted on attacking, as they wanted to finish La Liga at home with a good taste in their mouths. The three points were essential to making it to Europe. Just as in his best games, Reyes was lively and active. He started a great chance by playing through Juanfran, but the Spaniard was unable to notch the second.
The fact is that Djukic’s men wanted to play well, but were unable to. Atlético de Madrid had complete control and Hércules were only able to create danger on set pieces. The ‘rojiblanco’ defence felt safe until the 29th minute, when Iturralde González pointed to the penalty spot after Pulido brought down A. Paz. It was time for David De Gea to shine. Once again, the home grown goalkeeper came out in defence of his squad and stopped Trezeguet’s spot kick. This brought the fans to their feet and led them to chant De Gea’s name. It seemed like luck, this time, was allied with the home team.
After the half-hour mark, Kun wanted to make the difference. The ‘rojiblanco’ forward unleashed a strong diagonal shot that almost went into Velthuizen’s goal. The connection between Kun and Reyes was working well and this benefitted the team. A great shot from Koke five minutes before the halftime whistle thundered off the corner of the crossbar.
The second half began as the first ended. Atlético held possession of the ball and Hércules followed their rhythm. The visitors pushed up their lines to try and put more pressure on the home side, but the circumstances weren’t the best. The fact is that everyone was paying attention to their radios, which is typical in the final weeks. The squad from Madrid had to focus on their match, but it was inevitable to look in at other stadiums.
The game dropped in intensity level in the second half. There weren’t many scoring chances in either area. In the 62nd minute, the Atlético faithful got on their feet when a free kick from Portillo crashed off the crossbar. This boosted the confidence of the visitors. Shortly thereafter, Trezeguet nabbed the equalizer off a corner kick that Juara flicked on at the near post. The Frenchman got behind Pulido and changed the looks on the faces of the Atleti players.
But the joy didn’t last long for the side from Alicante. José Antonio Reyes returned the happiness to the stands. In the 70th minute he pounced on a rebound from Velthuizen after a Kun Agüero shot and volleyed home from the top of the area to give Atlético de Madrid the lead once again. It was the icing on the cake for Reyes, who had been playing a good game. With the lead on the scoreboard, Atleti didn’t step off the gas. They wanted to build on their advantage, but Hércules were making things difficult. A chance from Kun and another from Juanfran in the waning moments saw the match to its end. Atlético will have to make this win stand up in the final week of the season against Mallorca. With the three points in the bag, the protagonist was Quique Sánchez Flores, who received a large ovation from the public, who wanted to acknowledge his work at his final home game as manager of Atlético de Madrid.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 2 (Domínguez and Reyes); HÉRCULES, 1 (Trezeguet).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Valera, Pulido, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Mario Suárez, Tiago (Assunçao, 78’), Juanfran, Koke (Elías, 82’); Reyes (Noguera, 91’) and Kun Agüero.
Hércules: Velthuizen; Cortés, A. Paz, Juanra, Peña; Farinós (Fritzler, 79’), Pamarot; Kiko, Tiago Gomes, Portillo and Trezeguet.
Referee: Iturralde González. For Atlético de Madrid, booked Pulido (29’); for Hércules warned Cortés (16’) and Juanra (90’).
Incidencias: Estadio Vicente Calderón. Matchday 36 of La Liga BBVA. A minute of silence was held in memory of the victims of the earthquakes in Lorca and for the father of Juanfran.
Goals:
1-0 (1’). Domínguez gives Atlético the lead after a pass from Kun Agüero.
1-1 (66’). Trezeguet levels off a corner kick.
2-1 (70’). Reyes scores on a volley from the top of the area.
