Report: El Madrileño extend their unbeaten run in Alcalá | OneFootball

After two weeks of inactivity due to the postponement of the Hércules match because of DANA Alice, Atlético Madrileño returns to Alcalá de Henares to host a Juventud Torremolinos on the rise. The Rojiblancos have racked up 3 consecutive wins, plus the return of Julio Díaz and Rayane Belaid after finishing their participation in the U-20 World Cup.

Fernando Torres’s side lined up as follows: Salvador Esquivel; Javier Boñar, Aleksa Puric, Dani Martínez, Julio Díaz; Javi Morcillo, Martín Bellotti; Iker Luque, Jano Monserrate, Arnau Ortiz; Omar Janneh. Only Julio made the starting eleven among those who were in Chile, first start for Morcillo, Jano stays as attacking midfielder, and Dani Martínez was chosen to replace Ilias Kostis as the left-sided center-back. Recall that the Greek-Cypriot is out for the season due to an ACL tear suffered in the first team’s friendly in Libya.

Early in the first half, Atleti had one of the clearest chances of the match. A free kick right on the edge of the box, with a corresponding yellow for the opponent, and Dani Martínez struck the crossbar with his left-footed effort. The visitors pressed, forcing Esquivel into several fine saves to prevent the opener. And around the 20th minute, after a set-piece routine from a corner, there was a shirt pull on Jano Monserrate that the referee, after 6 minutes of review on FVS, ultimately ruled as a penalty. The spot-kick was converted by Omar Janneh, his second goal of the season—both, interestingly, from the penalty spot. The players didn’t want to forget Kostis, taking the field with a shirt that read “Ánimo Kostis,” and, in the celebration of the 1–0, they showed another shirt with his number. A lovely gesture.

The Málaga side had to make the first substitution shortly after due to an injury to one of their forwards, while the Rojiblancos kept pushing for a second goal, which arrived from a set piece. Julio Díaz crossed, Boñar headed, and with a deflection off the defense, the ball ended up in the back of the net. With several forays from the reserves team down both wings, the first half came to an end.

At the start of the second half, there was a significant change in the eleven: Jorge Castillo came on for Jano Monserrate, who was apparently carrying a knock. Unfortunately, the opposition pulled one back after a good one-handed save from Esquivel, but the team kept insisting through Arnau Ortiz, Iker Luque, and Javier Boñar. The third nearly came after Bellotti stole the ball on the edge of the Andalusian box, but his powerful shot was tipped away by the opposing keeper. Then the usual suspect appeared: Iker Luque. From a rehearsed corner routine, he assisted Jorge Castillo so that the former Juvenil A captain could head home to make it 3–1. His first for the reserves, and thoroughly deserved.

Miguel Cubo came on for the last quarter-hour plus stoppage time, replacing Omar Janneh, who put in a more-than-decent display playing with his back to goal, turning, and linking with teammates. Later on, Koke Mota, Rayane Belaid, and Mati Barboza replaced Iker Luque, Martín Bellotti, and Julio Díaz. On a counter where three Rojiblancos were attacking against just one defender, that same opponent pushed Miguel Cubo and was rightly sent off, not without yet another review on FVS.

The referee blew for full time and the three points stayed in Alcalá. A fourth consecutive win for the reserves, which puts them third with 14 points and a game in hand over the rest of the field. Next up

THE GOOD

The team’s good vibes. They compete to the max until the final whistle, impose themselves in all kinds of contexts, and, fortunately, are being clinical in front of goal—something so necessary to be near the top of the table. Fourth straight win; there had never before been such a long winning streak either in the reserves’ history in the Primera Federación or during Torres’s time as head coach.

THE UGLY

I’ve lost count, but the refereeing with FVS is outrageous. They had to add 8 minutes in the first half and another 9 in the second.

THE BAD

There are hardly any negative aspects to highlight. It’s a shame about the goal conceded after a very good save by Esquivel, and it’s true the visitors had several approaches in the opening stages, but they didn’t offer much resistance overall. A pity as well about the discomfort Jano had been carrying, which meant he had to be substituted at halftime.

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