13 victories, 13 years later

From that Simeone to this one. Thirteen years later, the youngest of Cholo's children, the one who was eight when his father said “yes” to Atleti and asked him with exclamations in his eyes what it would be like to coach Falcao, filled the grass of that stadium in the that their red and white history began. The Rose Garden. In 2025 against Marbella, for the round of 16 of the Cup and the 13th victory in a row that will equal the historical record. That little Simeone who carries courage in his last name and leaves his heart in every unmarking, help and race. Those two thirteen are counted about him like nobody else. The years of his father on this bench and the victories of this streak built on his courage. If Griezmann made it 0-1 it was thanks to him. Al Simeone yesterday on the grass of La Rosaleda.

Because the big one was not there. The experience of returning to La Rosaleda for coach Simeone could not be complete due to his expulsion at the end of Cacereño-Atleti, in the previous round. That Simeone who, upon his return, had a box perspective to transmit his orders below, where Vivas commanded. His Atleti came out in the first game of 2025 with the eleven with which they had finished 2024 except for three details: Musso in goal (Oblak did not even travel), Nahuel by Llorente and a Le Normand without a helmet by Giménez. And that's it. His team soon began dancing with the ball on the green carpet.

Because if against Vic and Cacereño Atleti had choked their fields, Marbella had lost that advantage by giving up their own, with space for barely 2,000, for the 30,000 capacity of the Málaga stadium. His team came out with the line very forward, something that Lenglet knew how to interpret and, immediately, caused the difference in categories to be palpable on the grass. The match began with a monologue in red and white. In the first minute, De Paul already sent one of his millimeter passes to Gallagher, who he did not control at first and, before Bites could scratch it, Dani Martín, the local goalkeeper, kept it.

A Griezmann who came out like in a already seen of himself, with the C of captain on his arm (he had not been one since before leaving for Barça, in 2019) also filling his voice and foot. His was the goal. The play was started by Giuliano with an uncheck and, later, when De Paul sent another long pass again, it was the player who headed it for the Frenchman. Bites He returned it, the youngest Simeone finished it low so that the rebound fell again to his running partner, who only had to push it into the net. 0-1. Atleti could not make the wound bigger because they lost all their success in that number even though Barrios was another day doing magic, precise and solid. But his teammates assaulted the area with presbyopia while Marbella began to feel more comfortable in David's suit. Beltrán's team began to do damage on the counters from the left and the speed of Ohemeng. The first half ended in Atlético territory, pushed by the lateral centers of an incombustible Callejón in the game and the football. Genar couldn't quite head one and Gallagher cleared another before it reached Dorian at the break.

Barrios does not return due to a blow

Atleti returned with Koke, and not Barrios (blow to the ankle), in addition to a goal by De Paul that was disallowed due to, supposedly, helping himself with his hand. Marbella, meanwhile, did their thing: they played looser: with more effective pressure they continued to create danger around Callejón's centers. After a chance from Puñal he had a long time with the ball while Atleti continued to miss chances. It was after Dani Martín denied De Paul the goal in a double save, first from De Paul and then, in the rebound from Grizi, that Simeone brought Sorloth into the equation. The Norwegian giant appeared for Julián who did not appear, even though he played, but everything remained the same. From error to error. Gallagher smashed a ball into the post and Giuliano could not connect with Sorloth: one sent the crosses too long and the other was slow to react.

Marbella did not completely generate danger but they wove their trap around Atleti who did not finish closing the score. Correa could have done it after Sorloth served him a ball on a plate but the Argentine dribbled it instead of finishing it and botched it. The red and white's lack of clarity in the last pass and shot caused La Rosaleda to shout “yes we can” in the final two corners of a lively Marbella in the 90th minute. But Atleti resisted. The 0-1 would not move a tribute to the man who changed its history. That Simeone who started at La Rosaleda. Clean sheet, goal Bites and cholista poetry for thirteen. And the eighths.

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