Victory in Cornellá to think of the Champions League
Great triumph in Cornellá against Espanyol (1-3) thanks to goals from Torres, Griezmann, and Koke. The team prepared for the Champions with a good match and a victory.
Espanyol: Pau López; Javi López (Mamadou, 74’), Alvaro, Roco, Rubén Duarte (Caicedo, 65’); Víctor Sánchez (Burgui, 82’), Óscar Duarte, Diop; Asensio, Gerard Moreno, and Abraham.
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Godín, Lucas, Filipe Luis; Koke, Gabi, Augusto Fernández (Saúl, 85’); Carrasco (Correa, 61’), Griezmann (Thomas, 61’), and Fernando Torres.
Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque Committee). Booked the home players Víctor Sánchez (4’) and Diop (45’); and the visiting Filipe Luis (64’) and Correa (78’).
GOALS:
1-0. 29’. Diop heads to the net a corner kick bounced by Asensio.
1-1. 36’. Fernando Torres crosses in front of Pau after a masterful pass from Koke.
1-2. 59’. Griezmann finishes after a great collective play with an assist from Koke.
1-3. 88’. Koke sends a header to the net after a cross from Fernando Torres.
Atlético de Madrid took the field of Cornellá with the goal of winning three points that would bring it closer to Barcelona. In addition, the best of preparing the Wednesday’s Champions League match was playing a good one against a demanding rival such as Espanyol. And admittedly, the Catalonian got our team into team trouble with the goal from Diop, although before that, Torres had sent a shot to the crossbar and Pau had cleared an effort by Carrasco. But the home team’s joy didn’t last long because Torres levelled the game after a great assist from Koke.
In the second half, the script was the same, with an Atlético that grew with time and dealt a lethal blow to Espanyol a quarter of an hour in, with the goal of Griezmann. The Frenchman finished a great collective play with Koke again as an assistant. And, when the match was coming to an end, Koke ended his big game with a goal to pass from Torres. Atlético is still in the fight and has prepared in the best way to deal with the second leg match of the Champions quarterfinals against Barcelona. And it is still the best away team in the League.