Step to the champion… of winter

There are few first times left for Simeone to live at Atlético after thirteen years, but this was one of them. And straight to the story. On the clear afternoon, under the winter sun and that phrase that 64,801 people will be able to say: “I was there.” Over there the day when Atleti won 14 games in a row for the first time to become winter champion of this League which in October I saw with a spyglass, at a distance of ten points. To do this he had to beat Osasuna. And it was difficult for him to chew it.

An Osasuna that won the field draw and Atleti's 13 consecutive victories that were looking for 14 forced them to start attacking in the goal where their home games always end, at the foot of the south end. At seven minutes Griezmann broke the defensive framework set up by Vicente Morenowith a goal that he scored with his elbow, even though it was attached to him, and the referee annulled it after a VAR warning and a screen. The assist had come from the boot of Nahuel, starter instead of Llorente, after a pass from Giuliano, who the danger in Atleti drinks mate and goes to the right. But the Prince's hand went off the scoreboard and for Atleti it was a blow. That goal-no-goal He stayed there for a long time, how-how in the head.

Recomposed and its framework intact, this Osasuna that had come out without Areso, Aimar, Moncayola or Budimir, raised its chin against an Atleti with its typical eleven, the one of the last games. The rojillos took the ball, prohibiting it from the rojiblancos. In his attempt to mirror Osasuna's 5-3-2, Simeone got tangled, his team suddenly unable to find the way to Herrera. Lost, stuck and blocked. Osasuna denied him spaces, made his passes uncomfortable and gave him a warning: Herrando headed wide, a few fingers from the post, a cross from Moi taking advantage of the fact that Oblak had gone out for grapes and almost got a gift. Torró went with a compass and Bites had vanished after goal-no-goal. Only two more times in the first half did Atleti manage to reach the rival area. One after Giuliano sped away and looked for Julián who, frankly, kicked it centered and easy for Herrera. The other, when De Paul sent one of his measured centers to a Julián who ruined it again: half with his head, half with his shoulder, he finished it tamely again for Herrera. It was cold in the Metropolitano when the break arrived. With a cold, unpleasant air, like the afternoon was setting for the red and whites.

Gallagher did not return from the booth. Simeone introduced Lino to have left and more order, although his team began the second half touching and touching at the foot of the red wall without being able to crack it. Until the second corner of the afternoon arrived. That one in the 55th minute that remembered Cholo's first Atleti champion. Blackboard and 1-0. Julián's third time was the charm. Griezmann sent a tense cross to the far post where Lenglet, intelligently, extended towards the Argentine. La Araña only had to lower the ball with his chest and score. Suddenly it stopped being cold in the Metropolitano. In the eyes of the 64,801, a winter champion. In addition to history. Atleti del Cholo in another first time: the 14th victory in a row, a new record.

Osasuna had the ball, but not the danger. Although Julián insisted on giving him balls and one of those transfers ended in a chance by Raúl García that went very wide. Atleti were not completely in control, but they were not afraid either. Although he began to defend in just four meters at the feet of Oblak and Vicente Moreno introduced Aimar, Moncayola and Areso in one fell swoop. Without Budimir, he was still blunt. Atleti defended their winter champion title on the wire, juggling their 1-0 lead. With only three changes and not a minute of Sorloth. If Llorente entered for Nahuel, Correa did so when Vicente Moreno gave way to Budimir for the finale. A finale in which Rubén García claimed a penalty, Osasuna hit a rebound on his own wood and Simeone asked, as if praying, for encouragement and a voice from the stands.

His Atleti resisted to, when the referee whistled, hug each other in celebration. About being champion in January and 14. Not even the moon, which appeared midway through the second half in a corner of the dome, even though the sun had not set, wanted to miss it.

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.