Atletico Madrid defeated Real Sociedad, with a final score of 3-2, in the 27th round of LaLiga, in a match that took place at the “Estadio Metropolitano” and that offered a series of “story-telling” goals and an atypical development of the game. Alexander Sorloth and Carlos Soler managed to get their names on the scorers’ list, just like in the round duel, but Nicolas Gonzalez, who entered during the confrontation, was the “hero” of the team prepared by Diego Simeone, as he scored twice towards the end and decided the fate of the three points.

The preview of this season’s “Copa del Rey” final was played in the 27th round of LaLiga, in a match in which Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad dueled at the “Estadio Metropolitano”. Before the starting whistle, the “rojiblancos” group occupied the last place on the podium, being equal on points with Villareal and far behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, while the guests were positioned outside the qualifying places for the European cups next season, five lengths away from Celta Vigo, but with a less developed game.

In the middle of last week, the two clubs had been involved in the second leg of the “Copa del Rey” semi-finals, with Diego Simeone’s students managing to secure qualification in the last act of the competition, despite the failure suffered by a no-show against Barcelona, ​​at the “Camp Nou”. The Basques defeated their regional rivals for the second time in a row and will fight for the trophy in the final to be held at the “Estadio de la Cartuja” in Seville. In the most recent round of the domestic championship, Atletico Madrid narrowly beat Real Oviedo away thanks to a goal scored by Julian Alvarez in the final phase, while Real Sociedad, thanks to Carlos Soler’s execution, recorded a success in the company of Real Mallorca.

The team from the Spanish capital had achieved, prior to this match, three triumphs in a row at home, and, in LaLiga, Atletico Madrid had won 11 of the total 13 duels played at the “Estadio Metropolitano”. In the most recent five matches played in all competitions, away, the team from San Sebastian had recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat. Diego Simeone could not rely on Pablo Barrios, who was injured, and his counterpart did not have Alvaro Odriozola, Take Kubo and Aihen Munoz available.

In the duel that was played in the round of this championship edition, the two teams ended in a draw, final score, 1-1, in a match in which Alexander Sorloth would open the score. Moreover, since transferring to Atletico Madrid, the Norwegian striker has scored six times in the most recent four direct matches against Real Sociedad, feeling at ease on the field in front of his former club. The last time the Basque group would prevail on the field of the club “los colchoneros”, it happened in 2013, when the decisive pass for the only goal of the match belonged to Antoine Griezmann, the current footballer of the Madrid team.

The first chance to score belonged to the hosts, when Giuliano Simeone was found by a deep pass from Koke, and after turning around an opponent, the Argentine laid the ball to Alexander Sorloth, whose tight shot was held by Alex Remiro. However, a few moments later, a throw-in from the edge by Nahuel Molina was extended behind by a teammate, and the Norwegian striker spectacularly volleyed home the ball, shaking the Real Sociedad goal. Matteo Ruggeri then crossed into the middle of the opposition box, and Ademola Lookman’s header went over the crossbar of the visitors’ goal.

The equalizer came a few minutes later, when a well-constructed attack by the Basque team caught the “los colchoneros” defense off guard. Carlos Soler received a ball on the edge of the penalty area from Luca Sucic, and the former Valencia and Paris Saint-Germain player’s execution, at the short corner, was unstoppable, so that Jan Oblak could not intervene. From a corner kick, Atletico Madrid generated the next important goal situation, when Matteo Ruggeri’s cross was resumed with a header from close range by David Hancko, but the ball went over the goal.

About five minutes before the end of the first half, Matteo Ruggeri sent a quality cross into the mouth of the goal defended by Alex Remiro, where Alexander Sorloth shot, from a volley, well over the goal. Sergio Gomez and Ander Barrenetxea combined beautifully on the left side of attack, and the former Manchester City left-back decided to shoot from a tricky angle, his execution going wide of the goal of the group from the capital of Spain. At half-time of the confrontation in the capital of Spain, Rodrigo Mendoza had to stay in the locker room, due to an injury that the midfielder suffered in the knee, being sent to the pitch in his place Marcos Llorente.

The first goal opportunity of the second half belonged to the hosts, and, the pass sent down the lane by Nicolas Gonzalez, who entered during the confrontation, was taken over by Nahuel Molina, who took the ball out for Koke’s “clumsy” completion, the execution of the Atletico Madrid captain going wide of the goal of the San Sebastian team. The biggest opportunity in the second half was wasted by Alexander Sorloth, after the Nordic striker received a pass in open space, he was left alone with Alex Remiro, but the shot “catapulted” by him bypassed the opposing posts.

Nicolas Gonzalez took the ball near the opposing goal, penetrated towards the central area, passed to Julian Alvarez, and, although the home striker could have shot from that position, he preferred to turn the ball over the Argentine international. The execution of the former Juventus player, among other teams, went over the crossbar. The second goal of this confrontation was finally scored by Nicolas Gonzalez, who received a great pass with the heel of his foot from Antoine Griezmann and scored, without much emotion, with a shot sent down the ground, into the far corner.

The equalizer came immediately after the ball was put back into play, when Mikel Oyarzabal, who had entered the field during the match, took a ball in the central area and decided to shoot at the far corner, the execution hitting the bar and shaking the net of the goal defended by the Slovenian goalkeeper of Atletico Madrid. Antoine Griezmann crossed from a complicated angle, and Alex Remiro boxed the ball out of the field, Jose Maria Gimenez almost putting the ball into the Real Sociedad goal from a few meters.

Atletico Madrid regained the advantage in the 81st minute of the game, when the same Argentine footballer, Nicolas Gonzaelz, was on the end of a cross thrown into the box by Matteo Ruggeri. The South American player scored, managing to score his “double” at a crucial moment of the match in the Spanish capital.

At the end of this victory, the “los colchoneros” group remains in third place in the overall standings and could not be surpassed by Villareal, if the “yellow submarine” wins its scheduled duel to be played in this round, as a result of the positive goal difference, while the Basques remain in eighth place in the current hierarchy, being five points behind Celta Vigo. In the next round, the “rojiblancos” will face Getafe at home, but, until then, Atletico Madrid will face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League, unlike Real Sociedad, who will play in the company of Osasuna, in their own “home.”