News
JUE 12.12.2024
Atlético de Madrid never give up. That is one of the main lessons that has been learned over the first few months of the 2024/25 season, as Los Colchoneros have time and time again scored late winners to keep themselves alive in the LALIGA EA SPORTS title race and also in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
On Sunday night, the capital city side were 3-1 down at home against Sevilla FC after an hour of play, but fought back to turn the game around and to win 4-3. It was Antoine Griezmann who pulled the first goal back in the 62nd minute, before Samuel Lino struck from distance in the 79th, just four minutes after coming on as a substitute. Diego Simeone’s side pushed and pushed for a winner, which eventually arrived when Griezmann pounced to fire in his second goal of the game just after the clock ticked into the 94th minute.
This is the sixth time this season that Atleti have won a game with the winning goal coming in the 90th minute or later. In LALIGA EA SPORTS, three of their victories have been earned with such goals. The first was a 1-0 win at Athletic Club in August, when Ángel Correa netted a 92nd-minute goal. There was another 1-0 road win, when Julian Álvarez converted in the 90th minute away at RC Celta in September. Then, there was the epic 4-3 victory over Sevilla FC on Sunday night.
Two of the other last-minute wins arrived in the Champions League, where Los Rojiblancos overcame RB Leipzig 2-1 at home in September courtesy of a José María Giménez header in the 90th minute, before Correa produced a spectacular 93rd-minute winner for a 2-1 victory away at PSG. Then, there was also stoppage time drama in the Copa del Rey, as Atleti overcame CP Cacereño 3-1 thanks to two goals after the clock had struck 90, one an own goal and the other scored by Álvarez.
Another stoppage time goal which the club’s fans will remember for a long time came in the derby against Real Madrid, which was a 1-1 draw. Just when it seemed that Atlético de Madrid’s city rivals were going to leave the Riyadh Air Metropolitano with a 1-0 victory that night in September, Correa struck in the 95th minute to earn Los Colchoneros a point.
This Atlético de Madrid team really does come alive later on in games. In the first halves of their LALIGA EA SPORTS matches this season, they’ve scored 10 goals and conceded eight, while in second halves they have netted 20 goals and let in just three. If looking just at the final 15 minutes of matches, Atleti have scored 13 goals and conceded just one so far this league campaign.
All of this means they are very much in the title race, just one point behind Real Madrid and three behind FC Barcelona, although the Catalan outfit – who they face on December 21st – have played one game more. With this victory over Sevilla FC, it’s now nine victories in a row for Atlético de Madrid across all competitions, and they are starting to look like serious title contenders.
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