Antoine Griezmann takes the leading role with a striking coupe and two assists


Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11:26 PM• Guy Habets

Atlético Madrid has come out of the World Cup break in an excellent way. The inhabitants of the capital won 2-0 on their own field against Elche at the bottom of the field and therefore take third place in the competition from Real Sociedad for the time being. Antoine Griezmann, who entered with a striking new haircut, was the big man at Atléti’s side with two assists. They were used by João Félix and Álvaro Morata.

Diego Simeone, the coach of Atlético, had two players at his disposal who played the World Cup final in Lusail eleven days ago. He drafted one with Antoine Griezmann and let Ángel Correa start as reserve player, while Rodrigo De Paul was absent. Morata and much-discussed players such as Yannick Carrasco and Félix, who both seem to be heading for a departure from Atlético, were also at the kick-off.

The Madrilenians, who would at least briefly occupy third place in LaLiga with a win, dominated from the kick-off. Elche, the last of the competition who has not yet won in fourteen games, did not get a foot on the ground and was lucky that it made it through the first half without conceding goals. The team of coach Jorge Almirón came down to ten men just before half-time when central defender Gonzalo Verdú knocked down the broken Morata. The referee didn’t see it at first, but was helped by his VAR and then drew red. That meant that Atlético started the second half with one man more and that advantage was soon exploited.

Félix, of all people, scored the opening goal by heading a Griezmann cross from very close up against the ropes after a scrimmage (1-0), but then shots were fired. los Rojiblancos himself in the foot. After all, Mario Hermoso was also shown the red card and with that it seemed to be exciting. Morata ultimately decided otherwise. The striker’s effort eventually disappeared via a defender with a bow in the net, something that Morata himself did not see. The 2-0 did come to his name and that was it. Elche ended the match with nine men after Domingos Quina also took yellow twice and therefore red.