Big night against Valladolid
A great first half for our team with goals from Morata, Griezmann and Hermoso in 10 minutes of total success. On Thursday, the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Atlético de Madrid was a first-half gale that finished off Valladolid. A whirlwind of play, chances and accuracy in front of the pucelano goal. Morata had a chance in the third minute after a pass from Correa but his shot went just wide of the post. The team showed their dominance in the 18th minute, with a good team move started by captain Koke, with a deep pass that Griezmann extended to Morata with a luxury back-heel pass that the Madrid striker put into the net after cutting back to El Yamiq and beating Masip with a low shot.
Things could not have got any better at the Cívitas Metropolitano. Well, yes, because our team went on the rampage, looking for more goals. Griezmann tried with a deflected shot in the 21st minute but soon after, in the 23rd minute, he did find the net. A deep pass from Llorente to Molina, inside the area ended with the Argentine passing into the heart of the area and Griezmann, with a subtle touch, slotted the ball into the cage.
And if the moves for the first two goals were a luxury, there was a third that made it 3-0. A free-kick on the Valladolid halfway line was flicked on by Griezmann at the far post for Hermoso to head in, Masip to clear as best he could and Hermoso himself, left-footed, to push home. Three goals in half an hour of play, but with the exception that they came in 10 minutes, from 18 to 28. There was time for one more chance with a long-range shot from Griezmann in the 45th minute that Masip saved. That's how it would go to the break.
The second half started with Valladolid looking for Oblak's goal but they struggled to reach the goalkeeper's goal. Aguado, from outside the area, tried but his shot went wide. It was time for the changes in both teams and the game became livelier again, although the 3-0 deficit was a burden for the Blanquivioletas. A fourth was closer than the visitors' goal. A minute later, it was Correa who was the protagonist of a snooker, as he shot a ball that crashed against the right post of Masip's goal and then to the left for a defender to deflect it for a corner. And in the 67th minute, a deep pass from Hermoso to Carrasco, the latter to Koke and the captain's shot went narrowly wide.
Simeone exhausted the changes and Memphis had the opportunity to make his debut. And he had the chance to score after being on the pitch, after a good combination with Carrasco. The Belgian received from the Dutchman but his shot was saved by Masip, Memphis collected the rebound and a defender saved the shot that could have meant the fourth. The team continued to insist but the scoreboard would not move with a 3-0 that was definitive. On Thursday 26th, next game, this time in the Copa del Rey, in the quarter-final tie against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.
