Draw against Espanyol
A draw against Espanyol in a match in which Lecomte was the star man for Espanyol, saving his team from defeat with several fine saves. Darder gave the visitors the lead and João Félix equalised in the 79th minute.
Atleti came out in search of a goal against an Espanyol side that was entrenched in their area from the start and did not want to leave any space. The chances were slow in coming but those that did in the first half belonged to our team. Griezmann gave a warning in the 18th minute with a shot that was saved by former Espanyol player Lecomte. In the 28th minute there was a move that would mark the future of the match. Morata broke away at speed from Cabrera as he was heading for Lecomte's goal and the Perico centre-back brought him down. Pulido Santana did not hesitate and showed him a red card, a decision that was confirmed by the VAR.
From then on, the chances were coming from the red and white side with more intensity. In the 33rd minute, Reinildo crossed and Llorente's shot inside the area went over the crossbar. In the 41st minute, De Paul crossed from the right, Carrasco crossed and Morata missed the target by inches. And, in the 45th minute, Reinildo's cross was headed by Llorente and deflected for a corner by a defender. That was the difference between the two sides at half-time.
Diego Pablo Simeone decided to bring on Correa for the second half in place of De Paul. And it was Correa who had the first chance of the second half, with a shot that Lecomte cleared for a corner. However, Espanyol stretched and were fully effective. From a ball from the right, Joselu crossed to the far post for Darder to make it 0-1 with the Catalan club's first shot on target.
From that moment on, Atlético turned and with the changes there was more presence in the visitors' area. Giménez headed wide from a corner taken by Correa in the 65th minute, and two minutes later it was Morata who shot and a defender saved under the post. And in the 68th Griezmann shot narrowly wide. In the 77th minute, Lecomte caught Llorente's cross from the right. And a minute later Cunha shot high inside the box. But the goal of the red and white hope would come in the 79th minute. Lemar's deep pass to João Félix, the Portuguese player broke away at speed and adjusted his shot between the post and the Perico goalkeeper.
From then until the end it was a total siege for our team. João Félix again insisted with a header that Lecomte miraculously saved for Espanyol with a great save. In the 94th minute, Lecomte again saved his team after a one-on-one with João Félix. And, in the 96th minute, Giménez's shot was just inches wide. It was not to be. The team ended up with many chances that went in limbo, many of them due to Lecomte's interventions. On Wednesday, the next match in Mallorca, before the Copa del Rey match on Saturday at Los Pajaritos against Almazán, with the break for the World Cup in Qatar.
