Girona's courage remains unrewarded against a forceful Atlético

Girona paid dearly for their initial naivete and although they ended up putting fear in Atlético's body, they were left without a reward for their bravery.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
08 October 2022 Saturday 13:33
2 Reads
Girona's courage remains unrewarded against a forceful Atlético

Girona paid dearly for their initial naivete and although they ended up putting fear in Atlético's body, they were left without a reward for their bravery. Third consecutive defeat for the Catalans, who leave the Metropolitano empty-handed against an Atletico team that imposed its forcefulness in the auction with two goals from Correa.

The tribute corridor to Koke – the rojiblanco with the most matches in Atlético's history – which Girona kindly joined was an outpost of the alley that the mattress team found to score the first goal of the afternoon on its first arrival. Those of Simeone play by manual: recovery and running against.

Thus, after 5 minutes, Reinildo, the Mozambican side, stole in his field, rode the left wing unhindered to the visiting area, gave in to Griezmann, who put a cross to the far post, where Correa anticipated a static Javi Hernández and beat Juan Carlos at will.

The Catalan defensive ease had made possible the advantage and dominance of Atlético, who went on to impose their football: wait behind well armed, waiting for the failure or a recovery to run again. And, consequently, the rival started to keep the ball, to touch and touch looking for the gap. Girona combined and arrived with good triangulations and opening spaces. Twice Oriol Romeu tried it, at 25m his shot crashed into Witsel's feet, and at 35m he was disturbing again. Atlético defended itself with order.

Girona's possession began to fade as they approached halftime. Atlético began to come out with more intention and brought danger to the visiting area. On three occasions the goalkeeper Juan Carlos became a hero by saving three clear scoring chances. At 37 minutes he saved a shot from Cunha, who left Bernardo behind after receiving an assist from Griezmann; at 40m he stopped the Brazilian low, heeled over the bottom line; and at 41m he was flying to stop a long shot from Correa.

Girona's best chance came in the extension of the first half, after a foul as ugly as it was unnecessary by Giménez, who took the iron out for a walk on Arnau's ankle. Yellow to the malicious ironing. Aleix García crossed to the heart of the area, Yangel Herrera got ahead of the defense and connected a header that went just wide.

After the break, Míchel brought in Yan Couto for Miguel Gutiérrez and Valery for the injured Arnau – due to Giménez's untimely stomp. Girona did not have time to compose themselves because after two minutes Correa sentenced the duel with the 2-0 in a gift from Juan Carlos. The goalkeeper was trying to receive a transfer, he tried to play the ball to his right towards the side to Santi Bueno, but Correa telegraphed the pass, intercepted it and scored from a cross.

Atlético came close to scoring the third six minutes later (52m). Carrasco put a precise center from the left wing into the area, Molina played softly when Juan Carlos left, but the goalkeeper was successful to send for a corner.

After a carousel of changes from Atlético and the return of Stuani after his arrhythmia, the possible 3-0 went to 2-1 that gave life to Girona. Rodrigo Riquelme scored for his club in a brilliant action, with a long shot that hit Giménez and threw Oblak off the scent (66m). The rojiblanco youth squad did not celebrate and made a gesture of apologizing by joining his hands.

Girona then stretched, more daring, and Taty Castellanos connected his first shot (70m), which Oblak saved. And then Rodrigo Riquelme put a dangerous cross after a technical caracoleo that made the Metropolitan smell fearful, seeing how his team had backed down and suffered.

Simeone redoubled his bet by bringing in Kondogbia to tie up the midfield and João Félix in attack for an applauded Correa, with 15 minutes to go. But the fear increased in the rojiblanco coliseum with the ball hitting the post that Oblak sent to a tremendous kick that Aleix Garcia launched at 76m. Girona were looking hard for a draw, and they deserved it for insistence and faith, for courage and combativeness.

Aleix García had it again in an almost mirrored shot, distant and very powerful, which Oblak deflected with a volley to the crossbar and a miraculous hand at 86m. In the subsequent corner, Stuani finished off the post, but the play was invalidated by a foul on Savic in the scrum.

The 8-minute extension was agony for Atlético to defend their go-ahead goal. With Girona focused on Oblak's area, the goal was prowling. But Atlético is a specialist in entangling enough so that it is not played.

at. Madrid: Oblak, Molina, Savic, Giménez, Reinildo; Correa (João Félix 73), Koke, Witsel (Kondogbia 73), Carrasco (Saúl Ñíguez 64), Cunha (Morata 64) and Griezmann (Lemar 64).

Girona: Juan Carlos; Arnau (Valery 46), Bernardo, Javi Hernández (Ramon Terrats 84), Miguel Gutiérrez (Yan Couto 46); Aleix García, Oriol Romeu, Santi Bueno; Yangel Herrera (Stuani 63), Taty Castellanos and Riquelme (Villa 81).

Referee: Martinez Munuera (Valencian College). Yellow cards to Atletico's Gimenez, Cunha and Savic and Girona's Javi Hernandez.

Field: Metropolitan Civitas. 54,069 spectators.

Goals: 1-0 Strap (5); 2-0 Belt (48); 2-1 Riquelme (66).