At the end of the 31st matchday, Atletico Madrid won at home against bottom-of-the-league Valladolid. After the guests scored twice out of nowhere, the favorites finally came out on top, deservedly so.
In the battle for the championship, Atletico Madrid had recently lost a lot of ground, but on the last matchday in Seville, the Rojiblancos managed to score the winning goal late in the game. Coach Diego Simeone made three changes, starting Gimenez, Javi Galan and Koke instead of Le Normand, Azpilicueta and Molina (all on the bench).
Of course, nothing less than a home win was expected against bottom-of-the-league Valladolid. Also because the guests had previously gone eleven games without a win. Compared to the recent 4-0 defeat to Getafe, Hoffenheim loanee Grillitsch was one of eight (!) newcomers in the starting lineup.
Sylla shocks Atletico
From the outset, the favored home side dominated the game, with Barrios missing the best opportunity after six minutes. Atletico still lacked the necessary penetration – and suddenly the ball was in the net at the other end.
After VAR intervention, the referee had penalized a handball by Lenglet, who had involuntarily offered the underdog a great chance to score the opening goal. Sylla took responsibility from the spot, and Oblak was unable to parry his low shot (21′).
Alvarez and Simeone turn the game around
However, the Rojiblancos did not need long to respond to the surprising deficit. Just a few minutes after going 1-0 down, Javi Sanchez was brought down by right back Simeone inside the box, and Alvarez made no mistake from the penalty spot (25′).
The fact that the hosts eventually went into the break 2-1 up was largely thanks to coach Simeone’s son, who promptly made it two in the 27th minute. After being set up by Barrios, the attacker left his marker standing and netted powerfully to give his side a well-deserved lead at half-time.
Valladolid equalize out of nowhere
The second half began nervously, with only Griezmann showing a hint of goal danger with a header (47′). Atletico seemed to have everything under control, but were caught off guard again in the 56th minute. After a foul by Lenglet just outside the box, Gallagher deflected Javi Sanchez’s free-kick decisively, leaving Oblak with no chance of preventing the equalizer.
But even that didn’t throw the Rojiblancos off their stride, they continued to play patiently forward and were finally rewarded – in the course of the third penalty on Monday evening. After Llorente was clearly fouled in the box, Alvarez made it two from the spot (71′).
Joker Sörloth scores to make the final score
The visitors couldn’t score a third goal out of nowhere, but one of Simeone’s five substitutes made it 3-0. Valladolid’s goalkeeper André Ferreira had first made a strong save against Alvarez, but was beaten by Sörloth poking the ball into the net (79′).
Atletico, who could have scored their fifth goal in the final phase, continue their campaign at UD Las Palmas on Saturday (9 p.m.). Meanwhile, the gap between Real Madrid and Barcelona is now five and nine points respectively. The stricken Valladolid, in turn, will host Osasuna on Sunday (2 p.m.).
