La Liga: Athletic 3 – 0 Atlético
San José beats Atleti defenders (Marca)
Atlético Madrid’s struggles in away games continued on Sunday night as the Colchoneros lost 3-0 against Athletic Club.
The goals in San Mamés were scored by Mikel San José, Markel Susaeta and Óscar de Marcos.
Atleti were outclassed on all parts of the pitch and the score would have been much higher if it hadn’t been for Thibaut Courtois.
From the first minute on Athletic were the more dangerous side and Óscar de Marcos should’ve put his team ahead after just 90 seconds into the game. His attempt was soon followed by Aduriz who volleyed wide as Athletic put the pressure on us early on.
Diego Simeone was without Gabi (suspended) and Falcao (injured), and decided to rest Miranda, Mario, Koke and Adrián ahead of Thursday’s Copa del Rey semi final clash against Sevilla. But without so many regulars Atleti looked out of sync and vulnerable defensively.
The only field player that played up to his usual level was Filipe, who seemed extra motivated after earning a call up to the Brazilian national team. On two occasions the left back found himself in an great position to score, with his first try going just inches wide of Iraizoz’ goal.
At the end of the first half Emre, one of Simeone’s surprises, was at the end of an excellent attack but the Turk shot straight at Gorka. It was one of the few times Atleti looked dangerous, as all the action was happening at the other end.
Thibaut Courtois kept his team in it with an amazing stop with his feet to deny Susaeta and later breathed a sigh of relief when Ander Herrera’s scorcher flew by his goal.
After the break Courtois again stopped Susaeta with an amazing save, this time using his head. But from the ensuing corner the Basques finally scored the goal they deserved as Mikel San José headed in the opening goal.
Atlético struggled to create their chances, although Raúl García came close. He hit the post after Gorka Iraizoz got a hand to his low drive.
Meanwhile our Belgian goalkeeper stopped attempts from De Marcos, Aduriz and Iraola, but he was finally beaten a second time by Susaeta in the 77th minute. The winger scored after a quick counter exposed the Atleti defence.
Shortly before the end Athletic Club again hurt Atleti on the break. This time De Marcos finished off what was a beautiful move by Bielsa’s men.
Line-up: Courtois; Juanfran, Cata Díaz, Godín, Filipe; Tiago, Emre (“63 Adrián); Raúl García, Arda Turan (“80 Mario Suárez), Cristian Rodríguez (“71 Koke); and Diego Costa.
Goals: 1-0 San José (“50); 2-0 Susaeta (“77); 3-0 De Marcos (“85)
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1-2 
If Simeone is going to rotate, why not give Oliver some time?
The decisions that Cholo took were shit! Cata and Emre are not good enough for the first 11! Why Miranda, Koke and Mario stayed on the bench?
But no panic, we have a great season and almost every team in the world have these kind of games in a season!
Small note:
League is way mire important than cup!!!
I didnt like the way simeone and the team deal with the game!!!
Bilbao are very easy but we played like shit with weak defense
Very poor defensively tonight , expecting a backlash in the cup against Sevilla .
I felt that Adrian should’ve started with Diego Costa. To me, a lot of 50-50 refereeing decisions went against Atlético maybe due to the crowd. That crowd was lively and whistling every “controversial” call… kinda got annoying that the refs gave them so much control. I liked both Arda and Raúl García’s ball control but Arda needed to do more to take the team on his shoulder. Godín didn’t play good and Cata played alright. That shouldn’t ever happen. 1 CB has to at least play alright for the team to be successful. Hopefully against Sevilla, we can overcome the lag.
Arda needs a haircut.. He was better with short hair.
what was this shit for me the flop of the match was cho lo he gave up from the match from the begginig with so big rotation espatially when falcao and gabi were out…. really unhupp… i really want atleti win and play good football with sevilla… also i just want to say why again play soooo defensivly???? what is this shit at the derbies?(vallencia, real, barca and today) why are allway going to lose if we continue that way at last play more offensive
Athens, the only derby we’ve lost this year was away to Real.
Valencia, Barça, and Bilbao are not derbies.
He meant big games, don’t be too hard. I agree – very defensively and very tense, as if this is all the club is capable of. Well, shitt happened and they need to focus on the next match. Hope we won’t lose to some other crappy (at least in this season) clubs again.
yes that’s what i mean…. i’m not english to say darby only the local game… also derby is with sevilla and malaga(this year only)….
wow, big loss here. What happened?