CE Cardassar 0-3 Atlético Madrid: Notes and observations

Final season’s ultimate hasn’t even been performed but, however that hasn’t stopped the 2020/21 Copa del Rey — bonkers format and all — from launching ahead anyway. Atlético Madrid kicked off with a 3-0 win over Tercera aspect Cardassar on Wednesday evening and can advance to Friday’s second spherical draw.

CAR XI Sánchez, Soler (Llull 45’), Febrer, Julve, Coll, Roig, Alzamora (Sansó 86’), Javier López, Fernández (Calvo 66’), Hernández (Martínez 66’), Álvarez (Ramis 53’)

ATM XI Grbić; Ricard (Vrsaljko 75’), Felipe, Hermoso, Lodi; Torreira, Kondogbia, Saúl; Lemar (Camello 70’), Vitolo (Šaponjić 69’), Correa (Sanabria 83’)

• Thomas Lemar began the scoring for an Atlético aspect that had seen 80 p.c of the ball after 20 minutes. He placed on a pair strikes and uncorked a ringing right-footed effort from distance that clattered off the publish earlier than it landed past diving goalkeeper Ángel Sánchez. It’s his second objective in as many begins — after 46 starts without one.

The Frenchman was by no means actually liable to being frozen out — that’s not Diego Simeone’s type. However mixed with Simeone’s personal tactical tweaks which have allowed Lemar a freer function when he begins in assault, he’s an instance of how the “inside competitors” the coach often discusses is paying off thus far this time period.

Picture by Cristian Trujillo/High quality Sport Pictures/Getty Pictures

• “He’s a younger child, he’s coaching with us, he virtually at all times performs B-team video games. He should enhance in every coaching session to proceed progressing. He needed to play (Wednesday), he did fairly nicely.”

These had been Simeone’s phrases for Ricard Sánchez, the appropriate again who lived a dream debut with the primary group at Es Moleter. The 20-year-old, previously of Barcelona’s under-18s, scored an excellent objective on 42 minutes — a left-footed strike tucked into the netting to the goalkeeper’s proper. And earlier than that, he had performed the ultimate go to Lemar for the opening objective.

Picture by Cristian Trujillo/High quality Sport Pictures/Getty Pictures

Ricard has been an everyday with Atlético B over the previous two seasons. He’s develop into certainly one of my favourite prospects throughout this time due to his technical high quality and his self-discipline. There are causes he started to garner matchday squad consideration final season — he’s a expertise with a vivid future forward.

That stated…

• …Šime Vrsaljko’s return to motion makes it much less probably we’ll see rather more of Ricard. If the Croatian is wholesome, he will probably be Kieran Trippier’s deputy. And he seemed fairly wholesome Wednesday evening.

In his first sport again from knee surgical procedure, Vrsaljko scored his first Atlético objective since 2016 (which additionally passed off in a cup sport, towards Guijuelo).

“(Vrsaljko’s efficiency) makes us very blissful, he’s going to offer us crucial issues and hopefully the competitors (for locations) will intensify for the nice of the group,” Simeone stated.

• Staying on Croatia look ahead to a second — a delighted Ivo Grbić made his first begin and walked away with a clear sheet.
• Lucas Torreira laid on the help for Vrsaljko you noticed above, and the Uruguayan performed 90 minutes for the primary time in two months. This will probably be a key stretch for the on-loan Arsenal pivot, who will look to learn from the midfield place Héctor Herrera has vacated as a consequence of damage.

Brillante partido de Lucas Torreira hoy por Copa del Rey:

1 asistencia
133 toques
111/119 pases
7/8 pases largos
5/7 duelos

El uruguayo aprovecha sus minutos en Atlético de Madrid. Merece ser titular por Liga. pic.twitter.com/4Jio5lPsGk

— Santiago (@SantiSosa22) December 16, 2020

“I actually favored each of them,” Simeone stated of his two central midfielders. “Numerous depth, ball motion, they lined the width of the pitch. (Geoffrey) Kondogbia tried good pictures, and Lucas made good assists. It helps us, as a result of there will probably be many extra video games (this season).”

• Saúl additionally performed the whole sport, however had a less-notable affect — except for a kick to heart again Pau Soler’s calf that resulted in a reserving. Simeone has expressed confidence within the 26-year-old and hope that he’ll bounce again quickly…however Atlético have been profitable for almost three months with Saúl both injured or off form.
• Superior second earlier than kickoff as Atlético Femenino midfielder and Mallorca native Virginia Torrecilla obtained some recognition. Torrecilla underwent surgical procedure to take away a mind tumor in Could.

• Los Colchoneros’ win enters them into the second spherical draw Friday. Will probably be a 60-team pot, with single video games to be performed in January forward of the more-recognizable spherical of 32.