Super Cup Spain, Atletico-Athletic 1-2, Bilbao in the final with Real Madrid

No Madrid derby in the Spanish Super Cup final. Athletic Bilbao reaches Real Madrid for the decisive match on Sunday in Riyadh, knocking out the Colchoneros 2-1, overturning the predictions of the day before after a comeback from heart attack. Marcelino’s Basques thus return to play for the title after the triumph of the last edition, but this time they will not find Barça in the final. The reigning champions thank a deadly one-two from Yeray and the new entry Williams in the last quarter of an hour, while the Cholo gang takes another step back after the timid signs of recovery at the beginning of the year. The rojiblancos deceive themselves with an own goal from Simon in the 61st minute, but suddenly collapse ending the challenge in 10 for the direct expulsion of Gimenez in the recovery.

The exchange

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For the occasion, Simeone chooses to brush up on the three central players, focusing on a 3-5-2 with Llorente and Carrasco on the flanks and the couple Felix-Correa in attack. The Portuguese therefore check Suarez, who returned to scoring in the Copa del Re after a fast of over two months. The Cholo therefore focuses on speed on the sides and on a mix of imagination and unpredictability in attack. Without Griezmann, out due to injury, the only fixed point is that Correa who as second striker has found the right suit to express all his potential, translating everything into goals and assists like never before since he has been in Spain.

Gollonzo

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Marcelino’s 4-4-2, on the other hand, keeps up with the Colchoneros and, after some dangerous slippage at the start (goal canceled for offside and a great chance for Joao Felix), the Basques also take the ball in the game. Lemar and Inaki spice up the evening by demanding a penalty on each side, in the meantime Sancet makes good and bad weather driving the Madrid defense crazy. Yet, except for the first 10 ‘at a high pace, the first half slips away in balance. Same script in the second half and no change of gear by Atletico despite the inputs of Lodi and De Paul. To break the soporific atmosphere is a mess by Yerai and Unai Simon on a header by Joao Felix in the 62nd minute, a seemingly harmless attempt on a corner, which ends up bouncing off the post and on the back of the Basque goalkeeper crossing the goal line .

the turnaround

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An angry reaction from the Basques, who were initially stopped twice by Oblak. But for Marcelino’s gang it only takes a little insistence to find the desired prize. To catch him, in the 77th minute, is the same Yeray who a quarter of an hour earlier had contributed to the mess: perfect detachment from Muniain’s corner and equalization. All to be redone for the Colchoneros, which Suarez tries to shake up in the last half hour. But what still makes the difference is the enthusiasm and freshness of the Basques, good at completing the turnaround in four minutes. There is also this time the hand of a corner kick caused by a half miracle by Oblak: Nico Williams finds the low corner on the development of the action. It is the curtain on Atletico, because there is no longer a way to try to raise your head. The Colchoneros also close outnumbered by a straight leg Gimenez entrataccia.