Oblak: He had saved a penalty to Gerard Moreno to continue recovering sensations after two clean sheets in a row. A play where Parejo’s rebound goal was annulled by hand. But, very little later, he could not stop a lateral center and Pau Torres scored in a loose rejection, but just on the side that was not covered. This season there is always a cross, and in hand-to-hand against Alberto Moreno he touched the ball, but his clearance was insufficient and he ended up sneaking into Villarreal’s second goal. Half of the shots on goal are goals. Faced with such defense of circumstances, the team backed into its area, too retracted since there was no forcefulness in any of the lines, a difficult approach to understand until the changes.
Llorente: He’s probably going to be the player who most acknowledges Trippier’s departure. In addition to his understanding and good connection with English, for having to act as a patch on the right side while waiting for new cash to arrive. Wasted in that position, he tried to follow his marks and cover in a completely retracted defense, but it was a suffering for him and for the team. From Villarreal’s second goal he was able to climb lines as a lane, approach the rival area and reach the baseline.
Philip: His level as a center-back has been falling since his arrival two and a half seasons ago. He leaves the site and loses the mark, trying to clear on certain occasions with ineffective stunts. The team fell back and suffered with the mobility of Gerard Moreno and the arrival of players from the second row. He was about to get the touch of Pau Torres, but perhaps he ended up deflecting slightly towards his goal. In the second goal it was not overwhelming and Alberto Moreno slipped between the centrals.
Handsome: Simeone does not usually use him as a center-back in a line of four, but the absences of Giménez and Savic and the growth of Kondogbia in the middle led him to it. Like Felipe, he suffered with Gerard Moreno’s mobility and with the team’s lines so focused on his own area. Alberto Moreno sneaked between the centrals to define in the hand-to-hand against Oblak. When he goes out of place, sometimes he rushes attacking the ball carrier and they overtake him for speed with self-passes. Better with the ball when the system changed.
I gave it: He had two games in full growth with the defense of four, but in La Cerámica the team came out well into their own field, with obligations focused on defending, where they suffer more and find it difficult to slow down the arrival at speed of the rival extremes. He left substituted to go on to play with three behind.
Kondogbia: Villarreal’s numerical and ball superiority caused the rojiblanco double pivot to suffer, trying to reduce water, but without the ability to take control of the ball or despite his physique. With the score against, Atlético changed their tactical system and placed three in the middle, with Koke and Lemar at their side. Thus he made his debut as a rojiblanco scorer, taking advantage of a clearance by Rulli from outside the area with a left-footed shot that slipped the goalkeeper under the body. He was sent off in the 91st minute for a double yellow.
From Paul: It was not a good game for the Argentine. Although his double pivot with Kondogbia was feeling well in recent games, with a great physical display, the Villarreal midfielder prevailed at all times, handling the ball and timing. He was barely able to contribute with the ball and although he always puts a punch, he did not take over at any point in the game.
Carrasco: Despite the fact that his starting position was as a right inside, in the first half he was barely able to come into contact with the ball past the center of the field. Very closed on the band to help Llorente, he had to follow a Estupiñán constantly in attack due to the scarce rojiblanco offensive affluent. With the tactical change he moved to the left lane, which, although a priori was more defensive, was able to come into play much more and haunt the rival area, as in the play of Kondogbia’s goal.
Lemar: Like Carrasco, the team’s starting approach suffered a lot, closed on its area and having to dedicate itself to defending. In one of those, a shot hit him in the arm and the referee signaled a penalty that ended up being stopped by Oblak. He was being very decisive in attack in the last games, but he had to play practically as a double left back until the tactical change happened to the middle. In that position he was much happier, being able to enter the game, dribble, reach the rival area and was about to get his goal saved by Pau Torres.
Strap: He celebrated his renewal with one of the goals of the championship. He had already tried it in Seville and against Villarreal it worked out wonderfully. Recovery in the center of the field, looking up and precise ball touching the impossible post for Rulli. Later, he had to dedicate himself to defending, trying to start in his own field and barely being able to add in attack until the scoreboard went against. He was able to make his double, but Rulli saved him in a play where Kondogbia ended up scoring.
Cunha: The absence of Suárez due to suspension left the attacking point for the Brazilian. And he is a player with very different characteristics, speed and power in the race with which a heads-up was forged running into space where Rulli prevailed in his shot. But it was an ugly game during the time he was on the pitch, playing more on his own area than on the rival and having to wear himself out in defense.
The changes gave the ball and meaning to the team
João Félix: He stood up next to Correa, with the team more psyched to attack and going down to receive between the lines. He hit his back and was a constant object of fouls by Villarreal’s defenders, who wanted to prevent him from turning at all costs.
Koke: He entered with the scoreboard against and wanted to be the protagonist with the ball, playing ahead of Kondogbia and next to Lemar, giving the team possession and play in the middle, where they had been surpassed by Villarreal. He improved the team and a good version of the captain could be seen, giving meaning to a desolate team. Good minutes after a few more loose games.
Vrsaljko: He entered a triple change that tactically moved the team. The Croatian is getting used to entering as a third center-back outlined to the right. Although he lost some dangerous ball, he is comfortable in that position and provided speed and security in the rear.
