Before the match at the Setivas Metropolitano Stadium, everyone stood to commemorate the event in a moment of reflection Victims of a traffic accident on Thursday. Three Sevilla fans died while traveling to Madrid to watch their favorite team match. The accident occurred on the A4 highway, 270 kilometers from the Spanish capital. Quique Sanchez Flores' players wore black armbands.
Already in the first minutes they showed great willingness to rub the favorite's nose, Provide bold and high pressure. Atletico had some problems organizing the game defensively. Already in the 10th minute, they could have given away a goal if Sergio Ramos shot the ball cleanly after a cross from a corner kick and an extension. Jesus Navas also shot a strong ball that was blocked by a defender.
Fifteen minutes later, the situation began to change Diego Simeone's players entered the opponent's half. They threatened first with a promising counter-attack, then through Antoine Griezmann's play across the pitch, and in the 25th minute they won the No. 11 after Marcao hooked Nahuel Molina. Antoine Griezmann approached the ball, but slipped with his right foot, and his shot soared high over the crossbar of Orjan Nyland's goal.
The last fifteen minutes of the first half were a bit more tense. Yellow cards The match was watched by Oliver Torres and Sergio Ramos from referee Gil Manzano.
At the beginning of the second part of the competition, Griezmann was the most active player on the field again. In the 52nd minute, he shot a wonderful shot from a few meters, but the ball crossed the crossbar and fell into the upper net. A few moments later he beat Nyland, but the assistant referee rightly ruled it offside. The Frenchman “burned” the match when he received a pass from Alvaro Morata. The world champion and 2018 top scorer was replaced by Simeone in the 65th minute and was replaced by Memphis Depay.
It was clear that Los Colchoneros needed a new offensive leader in this match. They had to be careful in their defence, because Marcao had a good chance, but he hit Jan Oblak.
In the 68th minute, Depay was able to actually do his job, because he scored in a one-on-one situation, but the hosts' goal was again disallowed due to clear offside. The next seconds of the game were ticking down, and the scoreboard was still showing the score at 0-0. But things changed in the 79th minute, as Depay achieved his goal. Angel Correa overtook Marcao on the edge of the penalty area and passed a wonderful ball to the Dutchman to give Atleti the lead.
As it turned out, the guests did not raise the white flag. In the 85th minute, Ivan Rakitic's cross from a corner kick went directly into the free zone, where Ramos took off. The famous Real Madrid defender could have silenced the fans for a moment at the stadium of the club's eternal rival, where he was not under any marking, but he made a mistake again – this time he hit the ball, but not cleanly. It flew over the goal. “Emperor Camas” had another chance, but he headed the ball wide of the post.
Five seconds before the end of the added five minutes, an athletic earthquake could have occurred. Referee Manzano awarded a penalty kick to Sevilla due to Lucas Barrios' foul on Erik Lamela, but withdrew the decision after watching the action on the VAR screen. Tensions arose between the players, but the match ended after that.
Simeone's players complete the semi-finals and are at this stage of the competition alongside Mallorca, Athletic and Real Sociedad. The semi-finals are the only round consisting of two matches. Which will be held on February 7 and 26. The pair will be drawn on Friday at 1pm. Anyone can beat anyone, so a Basque Country derby between teams from Bilbao and San Sebastian is possible. The final match is scheduled to be held on April 6 at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.
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