Forlán leads Atlético to a win over Raja, scoring the team’s three goals (1-3)
The ‘rojiblanco’ squad outplays the Moroccan League leaders
Atlético de Madrid have gotten used to winning and now don’t even want to lose in exhibition matches. Quique Sánchez Flores’ side was much better than the Moroccan League leaders, Raja Club Athletic from Casablanca, the club that had signed a Strategic Collaborative Partnership with Atlético before the game.
Diego Forlán got back into the scoring column against Raja Club Athletic and did so in festive style. The Uruguayan scored all three goals for the visitors to lift the Moroccan fans out of their seats, as those in attendance in Tangiers shook with excitement in chanting his name with each goal scored.
Atlético de Madrid played a solid all-around game from the opening whistle. With several changes in the starting line-up with respect to the contest against Levante, Quique Sánchez Flores’ team hardly gave their opponents a chance, as their scoring chances started early. First, Elías forced Yassine el Had to tip over for a corner kick in the 4th minute. One minute later, Domínguez headed a Tiago cross into the arms of the goalkeeper. This was just a prelude to the opening goal. Elias took a corner from the left and Forlán violently volleyed into the net from the top of the area. The ‘charrua’ thus broke a three-month long scoring drought, even though this was a friendly.
Fron that moment forward, the ‘rojiblancos’ owned the game, although without creating clear chances. Only two more from Forlán came close to the goal. Raja saw that they were outclassed and were only able to draw level on an isolated play finished off by Berabah, who took advantage of a mix-up between Domínguez and De Gea. Tiago almost gave the visitors the lead once again but his header right before the half was saved by the keeper.
But the Uruguayan recital was continued in the second half. In five minutes, from the 48th till the 53rd, Forlán was able to score two beautiful goals. The first came off a pass from Tiago, as Diego then ripped the ball into the upper right corner. On the second, he beat a defender and unleashed a diagonal shot inside the far post.
The home supporters, now entwined with Atlético de Madrid after the alliance, were able to enjoy the play of the ‘rojiblancos’ and even with the changes made by Quique S. Flores during the second half. Reyes and Kun Agüero were the most acclaimed, along with Forlán. The only thing missing was a goal from Kun, who had a chance to score. Borja, who came on to finish the match, almost tallied the fourth, but a defender was able to clear off the line after he had dribbled the Raja goaltender.
RAJA CLUB ATHLETIC, 1 (Berabah); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 3 (Forlán, 3)
RAJA CLUB ATHLETIC: Yassine el Had; Omar Dialo, Amine el Rebati, Mohamed Oulhaj, Nabil Hasloub; Mamado Bayla, Berabah, Lansana Coni; Aloudi, Souarri y Aboucharwan. También jugaron Ataba, Salhi, Ouhakki, Metoualli, Eddanguir, Belmalem, Ismaili, Koko and Allas.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: De Gea (Joel, 46’); Valera, Perea (Ujfalusi, 46’) (Pulido, 73’), Domínguez, Antonio López (Filipe Luis, 46’); Elías (Juanfran, 34’) (Alberto Perea, 68’), Tiago (Raúl García, 56’), Assunçao, Noguera (Fran Mérida, 46’); Forlán (Borja, 64’) and Diego Costa (Reyes, 46’) (Kun Agüero, 73’).
Referee: Chaïbou Ibrahim (Nigeria). No cards.
Game notes: Inauguration of the New Tangiers Stadium. Around 40,000 spectators with a large presence of ‘rojiblanco’ supporters. Enrique Cerezo, President, and Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, Managing Director, headed the Atlético delegation in the President’s Box.
GOALS:
0-1. 11’. Corner from Elías that Forlán volleys in from the top of the area.
1-1. 35’. Domínguez misses a clearance, De Gea isn’t on the same page and Berabah lifts it over him.
1-2. 48’. Forlán takes in a pass from Tiago at the top of the area and shoots into the upper corner.
1-3. 53’. Forlán receives a pass on the edge of the area, dribbles in and scores a diagonal shot to the far post.
Diego Forlán got back into the scoring column against Raja Club Athletic and did so in festive style. The Uruguayan scored all three goals for the visitors to lift the Moroccan fans out of their seats, as those in attendance in Tangiers shook with excitement in chanting his name with each goal scored.
Atlético de Madrid played a solid all-around game from the opening whistle. With several changes in the starting line-up with respect to the contest against Levante, Quique Sánchez Flores’ team hardly gave their opponents a chance, as their scoring chances started early. First, Elías forced Yassine el Had to tip over for a corner kick in the 4th minute. One minute later, Domínguez headed a Tiago cross into the arms of the goalkeeper. This was just a prelude to the opening goal. Elias took a corner from the left and Forlán violently volleyed into the net from the top of the area. The ‘charrua’ thus broke a three-month long scoring drought, even though this was a friendly.
Fron that moment forward, the ‘rojiblancos’ owned the game, although without creating clear chances. Only two more from Forlán came close to the goal. Raja saw that they were outclassed and were only able to draw level on an isolated play finished off by Berabah, who took advantage of a mix-up between Domínguez and De Gea. Tiago almost gave the visitors the lead once again but his header right before the half was saved by the keeper.
But the Uruguayan recital was continued in the second half. In five minutes, from the 48th till the 53rd, Forlán was able to score two beautiful goals. The first came off a pass from Tiago, as Diego then ripped the ball into the upper right corner. On the second, he beat a defender and unleashed a diagonal shot inside the far post.
The home supporters, now entwined with Atlético de Madrid after the alliance, were able to enjoy the play of the ‘rojiblancos’ and even with the changes made by Quique S. Flores during the second half. Reyes and Kun Agüero were the most acclaimed, along with Forlán. The only thing missing was a goal from Kun, who had a chance to score. Borja, who came on to finish the match, almost tallied the fourth, but a defender was able to clear off the line after he had dribbled the Raja goaltender.
RAJA CLUB ATHLETIC, 1 (Berabah); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 3 (Forlán, 3)
RAJA CLUB ATHLETIC: Yassine el Had; Omar Dialo, Amine el Rebati, Mohamed Oulhaj, Nabil Hasloub; Mamado Bayla, Berabah, Lansana Coni; Aloudi, Souarri y Aboucharwan. También jugaron Ataba, Salhi, Ouhakki, Metoualli, Eddanguir, Belmalem, Ismaili, Koko and Allas.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: De Gea (Joel, 46’); Valera, Perea (Ujfalusi, 46’) (Pulido, 73’), Domínguez, Antonio López (Filipe Luis, 46’); Elías (Juanfran, 34’) (Alberto Perea, 68’), Tiago (Raúl García, 56’), Assunçao, Noguera (Fran Mérida, 46’); Forlán (Borja, 64’) and Diego Costa (Reyes, 46’) (Kun Agüero, 73’).
Referee: Chaïbou Ibrahim (Nigeria). No cards.
Game notes: Inauguration of the New Tangiers Stadium. Around 40,000 spectators with a large presence of ‘rojiblanco’ supporters. Enrique Cerezo, President, and Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, Managing Director, headed the Atlético delegation in the President’s Box.
GOALS:
0-1. 11’. Corner from Elías that Forlán volleys in from the top of the area.
1-1. 35’. Domínguez misses a clearance, De Gea isn’t on the same page and Berabah lifts it over him.
1-2. 48’. Forlán takes in a pass from Tiago at the top of the area and shoots into the upper corner.
1-3. 53’. Forlán receives a pass on the edge of the area, dribbles in and scores a diagonal shot to the far post.
