A fierce match took place in Mendizorroza when Deportivo Alavés hosted Atlético de Madrid in the continuation of Jornada 32 of the Spanish LaLiga.
This match is crucial for both teams. For the home team, Cádiz’s defeat opens up the opportunity to get closer to escaping relegation. Meanwhile, for the visiting team wearing green uniforms, Athletic Bilbao’s draw opened up an opportunity to widen the gap in the top four zone.
The Course of the Match
The match started at a slow tempo, marked by many fouls and a lack of opportunities. Since the first whistle sounded by Gil Manzano, there was a fierce battle between the two teams who realized the importance of this match.
Leg kicks, hand punches and two yellow cards for Alaves players in the first five minutes showed the intensity of the match. In the midst of this fierce battle, a typical Atletico de Madrid moment occurred.
This team’s ability to concede goals easily early in games has been a hallmark of the season. In Mendizorroza, the same thing was repeated. In the 15th minute, a cross resulted in a wild ball at the front of the penalty box which fell to Benavídez’s feet.
This Uruguayan player did not waste his opportunities. His subtle right foot shot managed to tear Oblak’s goal and Atletico’s defense line, which once again looked embarrassing. This goal put Alaves in the lead and was a major blow to the mentality of Simeone’s team, which was already in decline.
With this goal, Alaves played more defensively and continued to attack with a tighter defense line. Maintaining their lead is a priority for Luis García’s team, who feels comfortable with the poor performance of the team from Madrid. Atletico were unable to build attacks and became easy targets every time Alaves entered their defensive area.
After being knocked out of the Champions League, if anyone expected Atletico to bounce back with gusto, the reality was quite the opposite. Simeone’s team showed a sluggish, boring performance and with a slow tempo of play.
Overall, Atletico’s performance was far from satisfactory. This made them fall behind in the first half and had to catch up in the second half.
It all depended on them, because despite Alaves’ superiority, the scoreboard showed that one team was doing better than the other. Alaves took advantage of Atletico’s weaknesses and got closer to the golden three points thanks to Benavídez’s goal.
Entering the second half, the match scenario did not change much. Alaves continues to create chances with ease, and Atletico is still showing poor performance.
Diego Simeone’s team was unable to turn possession of the ball into goal opportunities. Their attack after attack was in vain, and Sivera, the Alaves goalkeeper, played the match calmly. The Alaves goalkeeper made almost no saves, which is a reflection of Atletico’s lack of creativity in creating chances.
However, as time went on, Atletico began to increase their attack and Alaves played more defensively. This situation is dangerous, but not too worrying for the home team. Luis García’s players showed solid defense and did not feel pressured by this situation. With a tight defensive line and almost no space, Atletico kept hitting the same wall over and over again.
In the final minutes, Atletico tried hard to turn things around. Lino and Correa managed to get past the Alaves defense, but they failed to beat Sivera. The Alaves goalkeeper performed brilliantly when needed and managed to thwart Atletico’s two golden opportunities.
Alaves were able to hold on and their victory was getting closer, while Atletico made a last-ditch effort that did not produce results. And the goal Atletico were looking for actually came on the other side of the pitch. Alaves scored a goal through a counter-attack in injury time which was completed by Rioja’s volley into Oblak’s goal.
Golden win for Deportivo Alaves. The home team moved closer to escaping relegation with these important three points, which put them ten points clear of the relegation zone. A big enough advantage to ensure they remain in EA Sports‘ LaLiga next season.
On the other hand, Alaves’ happiness is inversely proportional to Atletico’s disappointment. Simeone’s team did not show their best performance and missed the opportunity to widen the gap in the top four zone after Athletic Bilbao achieved a draw. This defeat added to their disappointment after being eliminated from the Champions League last Tuesday.
Lineup
Deportivo Alaves: Sivera, Gorosabel (Rioja, 87′), Tenaglia, Abqar, Rafa Marín, Javi López, Benavidez, Antonio Blanco, Guridi (Guevara, 69′), Kike García (Panichelli, 78′) and Giuliano (Carlos Vicente, 78′) .
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Molina (Abde, 80′), Savic (Hermoso, 80′), Giménez, Azpilicueta (Reinildo, 56′), Lino, Barrios (Riquelme, 66′), Koke, De Paul (Saul, 46′), Griezmann and Correa.
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