Griezmann unblocked the situation in the 23rd minute, adjusting Giorgi Mamardashvili from the left following being served by Marcos Llorente and having benefited from a lucky control, then the Colchoneros doubled the lead on the return from the locker room (49th), following a nice one-two between Rodrigo de Paul and Yannick Carrasco, concluded by the Belgian.
Then the substitutes entered on the hour mark (64th) sealed the victory: Alvaro Morata, entered in place of Memphis Depay, served a millimeter center for Thomas Lemar, entered in place of Rodrigo de Paul, who concluded with an uncrossed header (67′).
Thanks to this success, the people of Madrid are getting closer to five points from Real Madrid, who travel to Camp Nou on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) for the La Liga clasico return once morest leader FC Barcelona.
Lemar, one year later
And Atlético confirms its spring improvement. Antoine Griezmann, excellent since the World Cup in Qatar, once once more offered a recital as a master at playing Colchoneros.
Perfect in construction, valuable in defense, and even a finisher on Saturday, “Grizi” almost scored a double, but his chest control-volley sequence did not find the target.
It doesn’t matter: the pink-haired “Little Prince” took the opportunity to harangue the Metropolitano supporters with both arms. After his goal on Saturday, Griezmann has nine goals and nine assists this season in La Liga.
“Antoine is one of those who best interprets the game, wherever he is on the pitch. He knows where he can hurt, where he will be dangerous, and when a player has this quality, you have to give him the freedom on the pitch to be able to illustrate it”, admitted Diego Simeone following the match.
Regarding Lemar, the other French international of Atlético, Saturday’s victory is also to be marked with a white stone: it had been more than a year since the Guadeloupean, hampered by several injuries and who saw his playing time shrinking in recent months, had no longer marked.
His last goal in an official match dates back to March 6, 2022, in a 3-1 victory at Betis in Seville.
Valencia, maintenance operation
For Valencia CF, this new setback complicates its end of the season a little more. In the fight to maintain, the Valencians, who sacked their coach Gennaro Gattuso on January 30, are provisionally tied on points with the first relegation player, Getafe, which receives Sevilla FC on Sunday (6:30 p.m.).
On Saturday, it was Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili who kept his team afloat for a while, with a spectacular save to stop a magnificent collective action by Colchoneros which promised a goal from Memphis Depay (20th).
And the “che” club also had bad luck: Hugo Duro’s goal at the half-hour mark (31st) was canceled following video viewing for a foul by Dimitri Foulquier on Memphis Depay at the start of the action, on the other side of the field. And in the 78th, José Gaya’s cross for Samuel Lino ended up on Jan Oblak’s post.
Earlier in the day, Almeria and Cadiz, in the battle for maintenance, parted ways in a 1-1 draw which does not help anyone. Ditto for Rayo Vallecano and Girona, who were neutralized 2-2 following a rhythmic and exciting match, marked in particular by a penalty withdrawn and missed by Oscar Trejo (41st).
At the start of the evening, Celta Vigo of Iago Aspas, once more recalled to the Spanish selection, took over Espanyol Barcelona, 3-1, in Catalonia.
