Friendly draw in 'The Archangel'
Atletico Madrid drew against Cordoba in a friendly match. Raul Garcia gave Atelti the lead but Mendi equalized in the final minutes of a meeting that allowed Simeone to see five homegrown players.
CÓRDOBA 1–1 ATLÉTICO
Córdoba: Juan Carlos, Janse (Campabadal, 46’), Bernardo, Armando (Pedro, 46’), Samu, Luso (Adri, 67'), Rafa Gálvez, Joselu, Uli Dávila (Juan Guerra, 57'), Pacheco (Mauro, 46’) & Strahman (Mendi, 67')
Atlético: Aranzubia, Kader, Raúl, Lucas, Insua, Guilavogui, Nana (Borja Martínez, 72'), Filipe (Ndoye, 81'), Baptistao (Carlos Ramos, 29’), Adrián & Raúl García.
Goals:
0-1. Min.38. Raúl García
1-1. Min.84. Mendi
Twelve years since Atletico Madrid last plays in the 'Archangel' Stadium, they return for this friendly match. Simeone had eleven youths in the side standing in for the players away on international duty.
Atletico Madrid looked dangeourous as they created chances with quick link up play on wings, especially down the right hand side which soon bore fruit. The first chance of the game came with a shot from distance from Raul Garcia. Cordoba also had chances, Samu de la Fuente linked up with ex-Atletico player Pacheco and his shot found Aranzubía’s safe hands. Leo Baptistão, who returned to action after overcoming his sprained ankle had more bad luck. He had to leave the pitch due to the same injury, this time to his right ankle.
Atletico had control of the pace of the match from the half hour mark. After good collective work, the first goal came in the 38th thanks to a header from Raul Garcia. Adrian, omnipresent in all attacks overflowed from the side and put a good cross into the heart of the area that found the head of the Atletico forward who turned it past Juan Carlos. 1-0 at the break.
After the interval, Guilavogui and Nana took control of the midfield. Córdoba tried to get back in to the game, but again thanks to the good work of Raul and Lucas in the center of defence, they were kept out. A very mature debut with the first team for the defenders.
Atletico Madrid looked abut to kill off the game when Borja Martinez, who replaced Nana in the midfield had a chance, but the defense of Cordoba was attentive in clearing the danger. Córdoba got the goal they deserved in the 83rd minute. A good move on the win ended with a cross to Mendi who finished well past Daniel Aranzubía. Diego Pablo Simeone’s team responded and looked for the winning goal with Kader and Insua supplying Raul Garcia and Adrian. However, there were no more goals in the match and it ended one all in a hard fought encounter in which both teams looked to win the game.
