Sucic punishes Simeone’s stinginess and leaves Atlético under reflection

Atlético de Madrid paid dearly for their stinginess in San Sebastián and thus stand out from the fight between the two greats of Spanish football. Diego Simeone’s team could not achieve victory in the Amara neighborhood, with the classic mold of the Argentine coach of a clean sheet, little play, and accurate aim. A whip from the Croatian Luka Sucic prevented it when the red and whites, with little ambition and very withdrawn, already saw themselves with the three points in their possession.

The tie at the Reale Arena leaves the Metropolitan team third, behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, who did not fail in their commitments, but increasingly further away – seven points – from the lead. Simeone’s men could not forget the shake-up that Benfica gave them in Europe, because if it had not been for Oblak they would have seen their goal pierced on more occasions against a Real Sociedad that is still in low times and has not yet emerged from the crisis after falling days ago against Anderlecht in the Europa League.

There was no turning point for the red and white team before the feared national team break due to the number of injuries that the players have suffered in recent times and the criticism towards the saturated calendar in a course in which they are coming from the Euro Cup, the Olympic Games and have not yet There has been room for rest.

Not even a minute had passed in the Reale Arena in San Sebastián when the Metropolitan team made it clear that they wanted to turn the page on the Lisbon disaster as soon as possible. Julián Álvarez, after a play by Javi Galán and Griezmann, gave the first blow against the Gipuzkoans. A sharp shot across the post from La Araña, after a luxury assist from the Frenchman, and against which Remiro could do nothing, put the visitors ahead. A bit that was a splash of cold water for the txuriurdin, who wanted to correct the initial mistake by gradually imposing their rhythm, although sometimes they ended up rushing.

Imanol’s men accelerated a ball that made the job easier for the red and whites, although they had it at the exit of a corner kick. Jan Oblak, who is at an incredible level, showed two extraordinary hands to deny the goal, first to Zubimendi, and then to Nayef Aguerd after a point-blank shot.

It is not surprising that the Slovenian is the goalkeeper with the highest percentage (81%) of saved shots in the Spanish championship. With the goal, Atlético passed the ball and had no intention of visiting the opponent. And of course, in the end what happens happens. Scorch approach. He fell back into line and waited against a rival whose only danger was distant shots, and some approach from the wing by an active Take Kubo. The Real Sociedad bands were the hottest areas next to the red and white goal, both in the first act and in the extension.

The Basque team insisted and insisted, which still lacks many races to have the reliability of previous years, pushing the Madrid team, who wanted to live off the income of their very early goal, and did not show any defensive weakness until a missile from the Croatian Luka Sucic broke down the wall created by Oblak. So much was the pitcher at the fountain that in the end it broke, thus overcoming Simeone’s compact defensive block. Atlético de Madrid became desperate and pushed Real Sociedad to achieve a draw that improved the mood of the locals and cast doubt on the visitors. The break will make you reflect.