Atletico Returns to Winning Ways: Atletico Madrid achieved a challenging 2-1 victory at home against Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday, marked by an own-goal from Rui Silva and a headed goal from Álvaro Morata.
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This triumph allowed Diego Simeone’s squad to break a streak of three games without a win across all competitions.
After suffering a disheartening 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey semifinals earlier in the week, Atletico urgently needed a favorable outcome to reinforce their standing among the top four in La Liga.
This victory brought them to 55 points, placing them fourth in the league standings, two points behind Barcelona in third, and six points clear of Athletic Club in fifth, with the latter two set to compete later the same day. Real Madrid leads the table with 66 points.
The game started with Atletico applying significant pressure, evidenced by Rodrigo de Paul’s shot hitting the post in the initial minutes.
The first goal for Atletico came from a chaotic sequence in the Betis defense, leading to an own goal by goalkeeper Silva following a cross by Memphis Depay. This mishap put Atletico ahead in the eighth minute.
Morata, who had earlier missed a penalty, increased Atletico’s lead by scoring with a header from a rebound just before half-time.
Betis reduced the margin in the second half when William Carvalho scored from a distance in the 61st minute. However, Atletico’s goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, showcased exceptional skills.
He made several crucial saves, including two spectacular one-handed stops, to ensure his team held the lead, extending their unbeaten home record to 25 La Liga matches.
Reflecting on the match, Oblak expressed a mix of disappointment for conceding a goal but also pride in his performance and determination to continue contributing to the team’s success.
The match was an intense battle, with Atletico maintaining control for most of the game despite Betis’s late efforts to equalize, highlighting the competitive nature of the fixture.
Reference
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/report/_/gameId/674278