Salvio and Diego Secure Win Over Zamalek

Atlético Madrid’s short trip to Cairo ended in a 4-1 win over SC Zamalek. Some 50,000 fans filled the Cairo International Stadium to mark the Egyptian club’s 100-year anniversary, but the hosts spent most of the evening second best.

Gregorio Manzano picked an attack of José Antonio Reyes, Pizzi and Eduardo Salvio, handed a start to young defender Jorge Pulido, and gave Sergio Asenjo a welcome outing in goal. His side set the tone early and led after ten minutes, Salvio making a clever run to the front post and turning Pizzi’s cross into the top corner. Minutes later it was two. Pizzi pounced on an Asenjo clearance and crossed for the Argentine to tap home again.

Reyes should have added a third from point-blank range before Zamalek found a way back. Midway through the first half Pulido tripped Shikabla in the box; contact looked minimal, but the referee pointed to the spot and Mido squeezed the penalty past Asenjo. Sayed then denied Pizzi after the Braga loanee had skipped past two defenders. Zamalek finished the half strongly: Shikabla stabbed wide of an open goal after rounding Asenjo, and a teammate had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

Manzano made three changes at the break, sending on Diego, Adrián and Domínguez for Tiago, Filipe and the impressive Pizzi. Seven minutes into the second half Diego curled a 25-yard free kick into the bottom corner, unbothered by a laser aimed at him from the stands. The hosts were denied by the linesman a second time when Salah slotted past substitute Joel, and in the 75th minute Diego finished a swift counter for 4-1. Salvio nearly completed a hat-trick in the build-up, chipping against the crossbar, and Adrián twice went close to a fifth. Javi Manquillo was given the final 20 minutes or so.

A friendly, but a useful confidence boost for Manzano’s men ahead of the following Sunday’s important league meeting with Levante, and a chance for the club to win a few new followers abroad. Radamel Falcao, a fixture in the players section, was due to rejoin the squad on Saturday after returning early from international duty with a hamstring concern. The 2011-12 campaign that followed is traced in the club history pages, and more reports from the era sit in the archive.