MADRID, Jan 27, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Antoine Griezmann struck again as
Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga by
beating in-form Getafe 2-0 on Saturday.
Griezmann now has eight goals in as many games, his latest helping
Atletico register their sixth win in seven league matches. The only dropped
points came in a respectable draw away to Sevilla.
Saul Niguez tapped in a second before half-time at the Wanda Metropolitano
to complete an impressively smooth victory over a Getafe side that had lost
only once, to Barcelona, in 12 outings.
Renowned for their tenacity, Getafe strayed in the final minutes, when
Djene Dakonam and Leandro Cabrera were both sent off.
“From the beginning of January the team has been playing well,” coach
Diego Simeone said. “We have injuries and I’m excited to think what we can do
when they’re all fit again.”
“We were not good,” Getafe coach Jose Bordalas said. “I didn’t like my
team, we weren’t like us.”
Griezmann could have been playing for Barca had his decision been
different last summer but instead he is fast-becoming the sharpest thorn in
their side, driving Atletico almost single-handedly at times to a sustained
title challenge.
Alvaro Morata could yet join this month, even if reports in the Spanish
press have suggested a deal with Chelsea is proving difficult to close.
But with Griezmann in this sort of form and Diego Costa expected back next
month, perhaps Atleti are less in need, with some fans even appearing to
chant against Morata’s arrival, although they were quickly drowned out by
boos.
“The opinion is respectable, people can say what they want,” Simeone said.
“I look for players that serve the club and the team.”
It is no coincidence that Griezmann’s surge has coincided with a
consistent run for Atletico, which looks timely too, with Real Madrid in La
Liga and Juventus in the Champions League both to come at the start of next
month.
– ‘Some discomfort’ –
Simeone will hope the thigh strain that forced his captain Diego Godin off
at the interval is not serious. Atletico described the substitution as a
“precaution”.
“He left with some discomfort,” Simeone said afterwards. “Let’s hope it’s
nothing.”
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde had said earlier on Saturday that he
considers Atletico the greatest threat to their title hopes from the Spanish
capital and it is hard to argue given Simeone’s side are now just two points
behind, eight closer than Real Madrid.
Sevilla jumped above Real into third after earlier thrashing Levante 5-0,
with all of their goals coming in the second half. Valencia move up to
seventh after continuing their revival by beating Villarreal.
Barca and Real both have games in hand to come on Sunday, however, the
former away to Girona and the latter up against Espanyol.
Atletico will watch on happy after Griezmann’s shot in the 27th minute was
too quick for Getafe goalkeeper David Soria. The excellent Thomas Partey had
battled through midfield before teeing up his team-mate on the edge of the
area.
Thomas was key again to the second, his lofted pass out wide allowing
Lucas Hernandez to volley first-time into the six-yard box, where Nikola
Kalinic should have finished. His effort was parried out and Saul slid in the
rebound.
Getafe’s frustration built and boiled over at the end as Dakonam was shown
a second yellow card in the 88th minute for a rash challenge on Thomas Lemar
and then Cabrera followed him three minutes later for applauding the referee.
It was a feisty end to a comfortable Atletico win.