Sorloth changes the edge – AS.com

Simeone no longer only has his arms in a pinwheel as a weapon to lift the games. Now his son is also there. The Simeone who, game by game, takes the be, be, be. Also today. Also on that afternoon in which Alavés touched history in the first half, winning for the first time at the Metropolitano, until Giuliano and a Norwegian giant fell on them in the second. The first gave the desire, the second, the goal. Atleti won, but again on the edge

The match had started with hands raised, a tribute to Simeone, 700 matches, thirteen years achieving that for a generation of red and whites the Beans It only sounds like a medicine cabinet. A Simeone who opted in the eleven for all those who stayed in the break plus Barrios and Oblak. Luis García, meanwhile, before starting, greeted Soco, Socorro Morales, his red-and-white mentor when the Alavés coach was a child growing up in the athletic quarry. In his eleven, precisely, two that in the 21st century were cradled in the same place: Carlos Martín above and Manu Sánchez behind.

It was a gallop from the latter that suddenly made the Metropolitan the afternoon the color of the sky, leaden and gray.: When he reached the front he passed Carlos Vicente and, when he shot, Javi Galán tried to stop him by raising his arm as if that were legal. Or I would like to ask you a question. In the area, of course. Penalty. Guridi kicked it to the right of Oblak, who dove to the left. 0-1. In the Metropolitan no one applauded anymore.

From the beginning the Cholo boys were hanging around the Sivera area with no more danger than that, just hanging around. Every time Alavés stole a ball they came out with Caros Vicente's legs exuding gasoline. Cholo's defense in the afternoon, with Azpilicueta, back, and Witsel, was older than it was top speed. The stadium, with part of it still on strike, watched coldly as its team moved the ball but was unable to find a loophole. Inside or out, everything ended in a wall: the ball was rejected by a blue and white player. And once Correa scratched and found space, he went on to Bites who left it to Lino, the best of the red and whites at the beginning, with intention at least, who kicked it with fury… but Sivera deflected it just off the crossbar with the tip of his glove. Very slow, Cholo's team blended in with the time: heavy digestion.

Hardly anything happened except time. Alavés defended efficiently while Atleti became entangled in its inefficiency with snail skin. Llorente was running for nothing, Griezmann was out of position. A Griezmann with a new hairstyle but the same effect as long hair, none at all, as if his thing was rather twilight than a physical valley. Crosses into the area for two forwards below 1.80 were not a good plan. All horrible, impossible to finish. Atleti tried long shots twice before the break. One Koke, another Llorente. The two meek to Sivera. Atleti lacked everything that Cholo built him on. Intensity, mordant and character. He played and played like Titanic musicians. Absolutely in vain. Inoperative. So close to Christmas, the red and white have been left without lights. Some whistle sneaked in when the referee announced the break.

At half-time, Simeone removed his two wingers, Galán and Llorente, to introduce the giant Sorloth and the push of Giuliano. The last one drew applause even when he took the throw. Even in that it is contagious. The first ball he touched with his feet he ran and sent with intention to the heart of the area. With little Simeone on the field, Atleti began to beat again, they already had blood, and they squeezed Alavés in their area with the 1.95 meter Sorloth aiming at each ball that flew over like a gun. Alavés did damage with Carlos Vicente's attacks even though they could not find a finisher. At that time, Julián Alvarez's break was over. Just after Lenglet headed wide, inexplicably and with everything in favor, a free kick taken by Grizi. Time continued to pass even though Atleti played without hesitation. And with Giuliano. Who spares no effort, the second part spilled from his sweat. His companions, the public, infected by his blood. He looked for the goal but Sivera denied it, although Atleti and the public were already on their backs. Atleti found the tie in a cross from De Paul towards Sorloth that Abqar repelled with his triceps. Penalty.

Griezmann threw it tensely and, although Sivera guessed, he did not stop. 1-1. And ten minutes left to go. For Alavés they would be resistant. For Atleti a comeback. Because that's what Sorloth was in the area for. And De Paul in the field. That De Paul who sends crosses that fly shouting goal. Unmarking the giant and goal. Simeone saw yellow for going to hug the Norwegian. At that moment when Metropolitano was like at the beginning of the game, with that loud roar, excited, and the coach blowing his 700 games in the best way. Without shine but with victory. Thanks to that giant from the hand of the smallest of his children.

Follow the Diario AS channel on WhatsAppwhere you will find all the sport in a single space: the current news of the day, the agenda with the latest news of the most important sporting events, the most outstanding images, the opinion of the best AS brands, reports, videos, and some humor from time to time.