Joao Félix leads Atlético to the Champions League

Joao Félix, on a scoring streak, was in charge of taking Atlético de Madrid to the Champions zone in a direct duel at Villamarín, where the current League champion curbed the euphoria of the brand-new Cup finalist and gave himself a bath of self-esteem. Betis was the victim of a double by the young Portuguese striker in a key game for the rojiblancos in which the verdiblancos, after so many days in a privileged position, took a step back in their fight for the top European competition. Atlético, however, gave a very important forward, after finally achieving three consecutive victories in the championship, confirming their improvement and their ascending line, thanks on this occasion to their forcefulness in attack.

Joao Félix was in charge of giving Atlético the victory and ratifying the good moment of the colchoneros in a strange and eventful match in which Diego Pablo Simeone’s team went through many moments of doubt in the final stretch of the first half. However, Atlético took a step forward after the break and, thanks to their punch on the counterattack and the quality of the most expensive signing in their history, they took three transcendental points for the obligatory goal of qualifying for the Champions League.

Joao Félix scored two goals, but they could have been more, because in the 68th minute he also scored a spectacular goal from midfield after a play that had just been annulled, and in the 72nd it was Claudio Bravo who prevented the Portuguese from increasing his tally and Atlético from closing then the match definitively. A meeting that was very strange, eventful and open until one hour later, in a counterattack, Llorente put it on Joao Félix and the Portuguese did not forgive. On the first occasion of the game it was Correa, who had to retire injured after a kick from Aitor Ruibal in a divided ball, who assisted the Portuguese, so that Joao Félix, free of marking and as a pure center forward, opened the scoring. This time Joao Félix not only had a goal, but also commitment and defensive effort to reinforce the morale of a team that is already where it wanted to be and it seems that it is getting better.

Although Atlético once again showed shortcomings in defense, apart from the fact that Simeone’s team once again resorted to their bad habit of going back with an advantage, they resorted to their collective work and their experience in the second half to beat a Betis that had more ambition and phases of good game but he had no punch. Betis was deactivated in attack after the break and the Verdiblancos did not stop suffering against the visitors’ counterattacks, until they were sentenced by Lemar.

At the edge of intermission, when five minutes of added time had passed, a great goal by Tello from outside the area did give the Verdiblancos a well-deserved award against an overly defensive and uncontrolled Atlético, also affected by so many interruptions. Betis, although they were hit very soon with the injury of Guardado, an emergency solution on the left side, did not stop insisting throughout the first half in search of the goal against an Atlético who then allowed themselves to be blatantly dominated and closed in too much. Atlético took risks throughout the first half against dangerous lateral crosses, especially from Joaquín, but in the second half they had a very different air, with a reaction of great team character and skill.

Atlético created more chances than football to defeat a Betis who had their chances in the final stretch of the first half, until they were rewarded in added time, but then the rojiblancos were superior, with the offensive forcefulness that the team lacked by Manuel Pellegrini. Only five minutes before Joao Félix’s second, when the game was already tilted in favor of Atlético, although not yet on the scoreboard, Felipe headed the post. Fortunately for the colchoneros, it didn’t take long for Joao Félix’s aim to appear again after Llorente’s assistance, also fundamental in this team that, after so many doubts and missteps, now has a different color.