Lodi's brace to beat Celta
Atlético de Madrid were the better side and beat Celta with two great goals from Lodi and a masterful pass from Kondogbia.
The game started with a lot of pace, with Atlético dominating and creating chances, up to three in the first quarter of an hour. The team came out determined to take the lead and first it was Herrera who forced Dituro to save a shot from the edge of the area in the 6th minute. In the 8th minute, Llorente played a pass to Correa, who shot from the edge of the area and again the Celeste goalkeeper saved. And in the 13th minute, João Félix's shot went wide.
After that dazzling start, Celta tried to find Oblak's goal but they found themselves up against an orderly, solid team that worked hard to avoid scares, and they did just that. Coudet's side had more of the ball for a quarter of an hour but without troubling the red and white goal. The chances came again in the final phase of the first half.
On the half-hour mark, Vrsaljko finished off a good team move with a cross-shot that went wide. In the 35th minute, Llorente made a great run to the byline with a cross that missed Correa by centimetres. That play was the prelude to the goal. A masterful pass from Kondogbia to Lodi, inside the box, the Brazilian controlled it in front of Hugo Mallo, feigned a dribble and fired a low shot that flew inside the right-hand post of Dituro's goal. A great goal that rewarded our team's play. A result, 1-0, with which we reached half-time.
The second half started like the first, with Atlético dominating and controlling the game. All that was missing were the chances to secure an important win. Kondogbia, who had had a great first half, was encouraged to shoot from outside the area but his shot went over the crossbar. But in the 60th minute the Kondogbia-Lodi partnership came together again to make it 2-0. Kondogbia's pinpoint pass from Kondogbia set up Lodi for Lodi to score with an accurate shot. Another great goal from the Brazilian who rewarded his work in a great week, after the great game against Manchester United, and yesterday's against Celta.
Our team wanted more and Carrasco and De Paul almost got the third in two shots that Dituro saved with two prodigious hands sending the ball to a corner. And Griezmann, in the 81st minute, tried from the edge of the area but his shot went just wide of the post. The Frenchman, in the 84th minute, from a direct free kick, again shot just over the crossbar. On Sunday, another final at the Benito Villamarín against Betis.
