The champion is missing

Atlético had not given time to settle on the game when Simeone’s suit was filled with splinters. Calleja had jumped brandishing a mirror, in search of the click to give Alavés oxygen, points, to get him out of the LaLiga basement. The 5-4-1 with which he appeared forced him to give up Joselu, gave him the victory. The clock had not reached 4 ‘when Simeone had already exploded that mirror on top of all the plans. The ownership of De Paul, the return of Kondogbia, the insistence by Grizi, the inexplicable substitution of Correa.

That click in Mendizorroza. The touch of Rioja’s boot hitting the first corner of the match, tense and long, the ball flying to the far post. Laguardia crouched there. There Felipe got confused. There the Savic statue was made, who has started the season as Savic’s distant cousin. Laguardia stole his brand and wallet. Goal. Another for Oblak’s account. And lhe sensation that the goalkeeper comes out with more and more fear from the shelter of his nets.

Forced to travel in reverse, Simeone could not shake off the start of Alavés. Unable to find a hole in the nine-man barrier set up by Calleja, with five defenses and four media planted with roots, very orderly, like warriors of Xian. Great match for Rioja, Loum, De la Fuente. The Atleti, determined to play on the inside. Asking his players for the ball at the foot, so predictable, as lost as Alice in the labyrinth.

And that for five minutes it seemed that he found his way, that inaccuracies were ending, that even Griezmann seemed to fit. The field turned towards Pacheco like a slide. But it did not take more danger than a shoe from Llorente with the outside that went a span outside. And that’s it. Calleja tightened his spider web and the rojiblancos became entangled in it as if Robert Smith were whistling his Lullaby. The Spiderman is having u for dinner tonight... Only Kondogbia and Hermoso escaped, another day, to the blackness of the first parts of Atleti, in the clear noon of Vitoria. Zero shots on goal, zero shot attempts, zero leaked balls. Suárez, in saving mode. Griezmann as looking behind glass, locked in his Hopper painting. Acting little, barely moving. There are those who have already begun to miss Morata.

Correa, with everything that Griezmann lacks

The second part began for Cholo in 60 ‘. And that before had accumulated two oops with a shot by Hermoso and a free kick by De Paul looking for the head of Kondogbia and Felipe that Laguardia took out under the sticks. It did not scare Calleja, however, who neither hid nor stepped back. His men continued as before, so well planted. It was then that Simeone looked behind him and looked for four men in tracksuits to change his painting. Inside Correa, Cunha, Lodi and Herrera. Atleti was launched over the Pacheco area as if it were Marina d’Or, Vacations city. Correa directed, with everything that Griezmann lacks. Spark, imbalance, undo the spider web between its turns.

Broken this one, the party accelerated. The Atleti was introduced in Vrsaljko area, in the field the last fifteen minutes to rain with lateral centers on the rival. But of Cholo’s four strikers on the grass, only two were puncturing (Cunha and Correa). Alavés responded to the counter and almost with one more: Felipe, weak as the worm padlock of the meme. Pina wasted a free ball to shoot Oblak from the penalty spot. But it was not necessary. The champion was already dead. It takes several parties.