Koke and Raúl García sign the third win
Important and vital triumph in Sweden against Malmö. Koke opened the scoreboard in the first half and Raúl García sentenced the matched in the second half.
MALMÖ 0 – 2 ATLÉTICO DE MADRID
Malmö: Olsen; Tinnerholm, E. Johansson (Kroon, 64’), Helander, Ricardinho; Ericsson, Adu, Halsti, Fosberg (Thern, 86’); Kiese and Rosenberg.
Atlético de Madrid: Moyá; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Siqueira; Arda Turan (Cristian Rodríguez, 76’), Gabi, Mario Suárez, Koke; Raúl García and Mandžukić (Griezmann, 69’).
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England). Booked the locals Kroon (82’), Halsti (83’) and Ericsson (90’); and the visiting Gabi (9’), Miranda (50’), Godín (51’), Juanfran (53’) and Cristian Rodríguez (94’).
GOALS:
0-1. 30’. Koke shoots with his heel from the 6-yard box a cross from Juanfran from the right.
0-2. 79’. Raúl García scores after a a cross from Juanfran is blocked by a defender.
Atlético de Madrid took the battered field of Swedbank Stadium with the conviction of playing a serious match which would serve to get three golden points. And they did. All the players were aware that they had to work hard for the victory. Thus, step by step, the team took control of the game. Mandžukić warned with a header that went high over the crossbar. Then, an Arda- Mandžukić-Raúl García connection, with the final shot of the player from Navarra saved by Olsen. At the third try, came the goal. A breakaway by Juanfran from the right with a cross to the centre of the 6-yard box is transformed by Koke into a goal with a luxurious heel shot.
In the second half, the Swedes 'burned' their ships, trying everything to equalise, but without clear goal opportunities. Only a shot from Rosenberg that crashed into the right post of Moyá’s goal. It was the Nordics’ best chance. The one our team had made its target. Another breakaway by Juanfran allowed Raúl García to score the 0-2 in the final stretch of the match. A fair win that makes Atlético de Madrid more of a leader of their group. The victory of Juventus against Olympiacos makes both stay three points away from our team.
