A controversial penalty and expulsion of goalkeeper Iván Villar marked the duel between Celta and Atlético de Madrid in Balaídos, with the red and whites winning 0-3 on a stellar night by Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman opened the account by converting the penalty that Cuadra Fernández gave when he understood that the sky-blue goalkeeper knocked down Morata after failing to block a ball that escaped from him.
In the second half, the Frenchman completed his great performance with two more goals six minutes apart. The victory, seventh of the season, places the Colchonero team in provisional second position in the League, tied with Girona (which this Sunday hosts Almería and could become the leader again).
The play of controversy came in the 25th minute. Mario Hermoso hit a ball into the Celta area, Iván Villar went over, but he did not block the ball, it slipped out of his hands, and in the fall, stretching to recover the ball, he touched Morata's legs. The red and white striker collapsed and the referee was quick to call a penalty. He did not consult the VAR when he understood that there was contact and he did not need help from the video.
Being the last defender, Iván Villar was sent off with a straight red card. Vicente Guaita came on for Kevin to occupy the goal, but he could not stop Griezmann's shot from the right (0-1, m. 29).
The 0-1 and playing with one more man did not imply superiority for Atlético, far from it. On the contrary, it was Celta that grew and dominated the rojiblancos. Rafa Benítez's team even had good chances to tie, with a high shot from Larsen (m. 32) and another deflected shot from Aspas (m. 35).
Atlético showed the only signs of danger on a double occasion before the break in shots by Samu Lino and Morata that were stopped by Guaita, although the action was invalidated due to offside by Álvaro.
After the restart, Celta did not shrink and looked for an equalizer. He was about to find it in a phenomenal shot by Jonatham Bamba that hit the crossbar (m. 55), with Oblak already beaten.
And from a possible 1-1 it went to 0-2, which ended the match. Griezmann launched Atlético's counterattack, as a textbook, he surpassed the rivals who came in his way, even with the help of a rebound from a defender, and when he stepped into the area he shot at the near post, falling, confusing Guaita, who was waiting the center towards Morata (m. 64). The Frenchman admitted the fortune of the action with his laughter. "Yes, he was a center, but with his right he can go anywhere," Antoine acknowledged.
Six minutes later it was 0-3, which destroyed Celta. Morata left due to the speed of his marker, sent Molina to the center, and he gave Griezmann the chance to score his third goal and his seventh in the League. It was his first hat-trick since February 2018 (he scored 4 goals against Leganés).
