MADRID, 23 (EUROPA PRESS)
Atlético de Madrid drew (1-1) this Saturday at home against Elche CF in a match corresponding to matchday 2 of LaLiga EA Sports, which has meant the second consecutive disappointment for the colchoneros and at the same time the second draw in two matches for the Elche team after their return to the top flight of Spanish football.
Diego Pablo Simeone's men were able to break through Matías Dituro's goal despite trying throughout the second half, and it was the resilience of Eder Sarabia's team that was rewarded on the Riyadh Air Metropolitano pitch, earning two points from two matches that, at least 'a priori', didn't seem to be in their league.
Both teams started with two changes to their lineups compared to Matchday 1. The home side replaced the injured Álex Baena with Norwegian Alexander Sorloth to find a key striker, and substituted Conor Gallagher for Pablo Barrios in midfield. Sarabia, meanwhile, replaced Léo Pétrot and Ali Houary, replacing John Chetauya with a three-man center-back and Rafa Mir up front.
'Cholo' Simeone's team came out determined to make up for their opening matchday defeat, and in the 8th minute, center-back Dávid Hancko slipped a fine pass behind the Elche defense, which Sorloth capitalized on to beat the Argentine Dituro and make it 1-0. However, the visiting team refused to give up, and after a few attempts were thwarted by the opposing defense, they mounted a great counterattack that saw Rafa Mir beat Jan Oblak to equalize in the 14th minute.
The match had started at a frantic pace, and after the equalizer, Murcia native Chetauya had to work hard to tip a ball that was coming in the direction of Atlético's goal scorer for a corner. The attacks continued, and in the 22nd minute, Elche's first injury scare came when the equalizer went to the ground, although he was able to continue without problems.
Elche's team continued to test their mettle, and in the 27th minute, David Affengruber made a miraculous save to deny Julián Álvarez a ball that would have made it 2-1 had the Austrian center-back not intervened. However, the hydration break arrived, and the Atlético squad returned to the field in better shape, controlling the ball and minimizing Elche's threat. The clearest chance came with a shot from Giuliano Simeone that hit the post, although it was ruled out for a dubious offside.
The six minutes of added time by César Soto were consumed by the home side's attempts, though without any real sense of danger. The last goal before halftime came from Elche, with a header from Bigas that was saved by Oblak. At halftime, the score was 1-1, with Simeone and Sarabia scoring goals, replacing the two scorers who had not started the first matchday.
The second half began with a change in the Elche squad, replacing Chetauya, who had been blamed for the first goal of the match, and introducing Víctor Chust. The match shifted even more toward Dituro's goal, who saved Hancko's header at the hour mark after several scuffles, denied by his defender through an imperial Affengruber.
Atlético continued to approach the opposing goal without success, so both coaches decided to shake the tree in the 66th minute, making three home substitutions and two for Elche, including André Silva's debut in the Elche shirt. The match continued without any clear chances, and in the 75th minute, another water break came, where Simeone encouraged his players to sustain their attack in search of the three points.
Gallagher took note and tried from midfield after seeing Dituro out of position, but his volley went wide. Atleti began to create danger as the goal loomed, and Marcos Llorente had a chance with a shot from outside the penalty spot that ended wide, a move ruled out by another tight offside call.
Time continued to tick away, and 'Cholo's' players circled the crowded Elche penalty area, which Griezmann took advantage of with a shot from outside the box, although his shot went wide and was easily saved by the goalkeeper. Later, from practically the same position, Italian 'Jack' Raspadori also tried, but with the same result.
The home side began to feel the pressure, and the seven minutes of added time were a monologue. The most controversial moment came in the 94th minute, when the stadium called for a penalty after Gallagher fell inside the box. The referee didn't signal anything, VAR didn't intervene, and the match ended without the Madrid team being able to find courage.
In the end, the points were shared, leaving Elche with two points after two difficult matches in their return to the First Division, and Atleti with just one out of a possible six, having faced teams that on paper should be fighting for survival rather than European places.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–RESULT: ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 – ELCHE, 1 (1-1 at halftime).
–LINEUPS:
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri (Galan, 75th min.); Cardoso (Griezmann, 66th min.); Barrios, G. Simeone (Molina, 75th min.); Julián Álvarez and Sorloth (Raspadori, 66th min.).
ELCHE: Dituro; Núñez, Chetauya (Chust, min.46), Affengruber, Bigas (Pétrot, min.81), Valera; Febas, Aguado (Redondo, min.85), Mendoza (Neto, min.66); Álvaro Rodríguez and Mir (André Silva, min.66).
–GOALS:
1-0, min.8: Sorloth.
1-1, min.15: Mir.
–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C. Riojano). Yellow-carded Febas (29th minute), Mendoza (45th minute), and Dituro (90th minute) against Elche.
–STADIUM: Riyadh Air Metropolitan, 59,369 spectators.
