Report: Atleti cap off an almost perfect March in epic style | OneFootball

After the last-gasp victory over Cartagena, Atlético Madrileño hosted Antequera looking to add another 3 points to stay in the fight for automatic promotion. Without suffering quite so much, of course. Obstacle: Atlético de Madrid. That’s who we are, that’s how we like it, and that’s how we enjoy big wins like this afternoon’s even more on Alcalá soil.

Fernando Torres’ side lined up as follows: Mario de Luis; Javier Boñar, Aleksa Puric, Dani Martínez, Julio Díaz; Javier Morcillo, Jano Monserrate; Iker Luque, Rayane Belaid, Arnau Ortiz; Rafa Llorente. The reserve team had as many as 5 absences, with Miguel Cubo and Salvador Esquivel away with the Spain national team, Dario Sits with Latvia, Martín Bellotti suspended, and Marko Perovic, despite being called up by Montenegro, picking up a knock last weekend and staying in the capital.

Surprisingly, it was not Madrileño who started the match on top. The Andalusians, full of energy, intensity and extremely direct football, looked to attack the spaces between the lines and out wide. That was how Moi Parra, Luismi Gutiérrez and Ousama Siddiki caused problems, with the latter always standing out against the red-and-whites. Just after the opening 10 minutes, Moha Bassele received the ball near the edge of the box and made it 0-1 with a left-footed strike that Mario de Luis came close to keeping out. Time to dig in.

That was the script in the first half, because the reserves tried to make the most of the few chances they had, with Arnau Ortiz as their main attacking threat. Defensively, Mario de Luis kept the team afloat with several fine saves that, for the time being, prevented the visitors from extending their lead on the scoreboard. A change was coming in the second half.

And so it was, because Madrileño raised the tempo and got Rafa Llorente and Arnau linking up to form a more than promising partnership. Dani Alcover had to be at full stretch to keep out a Boñar header in the box and, in the 64th minute, a cross from Iker Luque deflected by Aspra fell to Arnau Ortiz, who, with his first touch, restored parity on the scoreboard. The goalscorer coming up big once again to save his team. But another cold shower came in the 75th minute, when the same Aspra turned in a cross from out wide from close range to make it 1-2.

This is where the madness begins -and, for some, a controversy only rivals and outsiders talk about, driven by the frustration of seeing an Atleti team succeed-. After bringing on Jorge Castillo and Koke Mota -the only red-and-white substitutions-, Boñar was brought down as he drove into the box after receiving a brilliant pass from Morcillo. Félix Garreta clearly grabbed the young captain’s right arm and, although for some the contact may not be enough, there was no attempt to play the ball and it happened inside the area. The referee confirmed it after an FVS review and Arnau Ortiz, with a precise low shot across goal, scored his team’s second.

After some time-wasting, the substitutions, several yellow cards and the constant reviews, 12 minutes were added on that ended up being almost 20. Why? Because Puric was fouled near the penalty spot just as he was about to shoot at goal. It was not a heavy challenge, but enough to prevent the Serbian from getting his shot away. The referee did not spot it at the time, as it was not easy with the swarm of players, but for once in a long time he got all his decisions right. Into the same side, but this time into the top corner, Arnau completed his hat-trick. 19 goals this season, which is no small feat.

The referee blew for full time and the 3 points stayed once again in Alcalá de Henares, rounding off a very positive March for our interests. 3 wins and that draw in Seville which, had we won, would have us top right now. And Sabadell dropped points away from home again, now sitting just 1 point above the reserves.

8 finals. Never stop believing.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.