MADRID.- Three days before the Madrid derby against Real Madrid, the Atlético de Madrid achieved victory this Thursday on the Celta de Vigo field (1-0) on the seventh round of the League, thanks to a late goal from Julian Alvarez.
For many minutes unable to develop their game and put the ‘celeste’ team in trouble, the ‘Colchoneros’ (3rd, 15 points) took victory in the 90th minute when the Argentine world champion finished off a perfect cross from Frenchman Antoine Griezmann, decisive again.
The ‘Spider’ had jumped onto the pitch from the bench in the 54th minute.
“We knew that whoever made a mistake lost and we were fortunate this time to take advantage of the situation we had,” summarized technical director Diego Simeone.
Diego Simeone.jpg
Atlético de Madrid coach Diego Simeone reacts during the match against Celtic, in the Champions League, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
AP Photo/José Bretón
The ‘Cholo’ men seemed to take a dim view of the tie, but now their victory leaves them just two points behind their neighbors, Real Madrid (2nd), whom they will host on Sunday in a derby that could prove crucial.
FC Barcelona is the undefeated leader with 21 points.
Other results
Before, Marcelino’s Villarreal relaunched after their tough defeat at home against Barça (5-1) by beating another Catalan team, Espanyol de Barcelona (2-1 away from home), with a double from the Spanish European champion Ayoze Pérez.
The former Betis player has six goals in seven games and is chasing Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (7) in the scoring chart.
And the ‘Submarino’ has settled into Champions League positions (4th, 14 points).
Still far from the European places, Chilean Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis (11th, 9 points) had to settle for a draw at last-place Las Palmas (1-1), despite the fourth goal in three games by Argentine Giovani Lo Celso.
FUENTE: AFP
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