Atlético Madrid has booked an important victory in LaLiga on Sunday evening. The team of trainer Diego Simeone was too strong for Villarreal with 0-2, after the previous missteps against Levante (1-1 and 0-2 loss). The victory is also a boost for Atlético’s self-confidence, as the Estadio de la Cerámica is a ‘cursed’ stadium for it. los Colchoneros is. It was only the fourth victory of the capitals in twenty duels in Vila-real, the first since 2015 and the first with a result other than 0-1.
Villarreal started the game strongly, although the number six of La Liga failed to create danger around Jan Oblak’s goal area. Atlético did not feel at ease and did not keep the ball for long. A corner after a good long shot by Saúl Ñiguez, however, led to the opening goal after about 25 minutes.
A header from Stefan Savic at the far post went into the goal via Alfonso Pedraza, but the referee rejected the goal due to offside. The VAR checked whether there was indeed an offside or a violation, but that was not the case: 0-1. The Unai Emery team tried to force an equalizer in the remainder of the first half, but without result.
?? Atlético Madrid comes to 0-2 thanks to João Félix, who seems to have a message to Diego Simeone …#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #VILATM pic.twitter.com/vvIvKhmdGX
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 28, 2021
Atlético started well in the second half and it was thanks to goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo that attempts by Luis Suárez and Ángel Correa did not mean the 0-2. Twenty minutes before the end it was still hit: Pau Torres did not clear the ball properly and Joao Félix, who had come in for Thomas Lemar at half time, shot the ball diagonally against the ropes. A connection goal from Villarreal was not forthcoming, because a shot by Álex Baena ended up on the post and the same Baena saw his volley disappear into the hands of Oblak moments later.
Atlético comes through the victory on 58 points from 24 matches. That is five points more than Barcelona, which has played one more game. City rivals Real Madrid has collected six points less in as many duels as Atlético and will play against Real Sociedad on Monday evening in-house. In exactly a week, the Madrid squatter between Atlético and Real is on the program in the Wanda Metropolitano.