Atletico Madrid’s season ends with a closely-fought victory against Real Sociedad, securing third place on the table.
A much improved second-half performance, particularly early on, saw De Paul and Correa’s goals prove to be the difference.
Sociedad faded as the half went on, but still had a plethora of chances, and could well have won this game if they’d been a bit more clinical.
Starting lineup:
REAL SOCIEDAD (4-3-1-2): Alex Remiro; Andoni Gorosabel, Aritz Elustondo, Robin Le Normand, Diego Rico; Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Asier Illarramendi; Rafinha; Alexander Sorloth, Alexander Isak.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUBS: Mat Ryan, Joseba Zaldua, Igor Zubeldia, Portu, Adnan Januzaj, Aihen Munoz, Jon Guridi, Ander Guevara, Jon Pacheco Dozagarat, Nais Djouahra.
ATLETICO MADRID (3-5-2): Jan Oblak; Stefan Savic, Felipe, Reinildo; Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo De Paul, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Koke, Yannick Carrasco; Antoine Griezmann, Matheus Cunha.
ATLETICO MADRID SUBS: Benjamin Lecomte, Jose Gimenez, Luis Suarez, Agnel Correa, Thomas Lemar, Renan Lodi, Hector Herrera, Daniel Wass, Mario Hermoso.
Goals:
GOOOAAAALLLL!!!! What a hit!!!! Atleti keep possession well and Griezmann feeds De Paul on the edge of the box. With few passing options, he tries his luck and smashes an absolute beauty of a shot across Remiro and into the top corner! That’s some strike, and it puts Atletico 1-0 up early in the second half!
GOOOOAAALLLL!!!! The Rojiblancos double their lead!!! Carrasco has an age to pick his spot in the box and does so, curling a ball in for Koke. He takes a touch, then lays it off for Correa, who smashes the ball home to make it 2-0!
GOOOAAALLL!!! The hosts have one back!! Januzaj’s well-hit free-kick is parried by Oblak, but it bounces in the six-yard box where Guridi is waiting to nod the ball into the opposite corner! 2-1, and it’s never too late for another goal or two!
So, what’s next?
That win sees Atleti cement their position in third in the La Liga table, and that’s despite Sevilla’s 1-0 win over Bilbao. A poor title defence, but Champions League qualification is assured for Simeone’s men.
Meanwhile, Sociedad finish three places lower in sixth, but couldn’t cap off a fantastic season of progression with a win in their final game.
