Atletico of Madrid achieved a vital victory against Racing of Santander (2-1) that, besides adding three points, was good to prove three things: The first one that the team doesn't hide and knows how to put on the work suit in difficult moments. The second one that Pepe Murcia’s players have overcome old ghosts that didn’t let them achieve good results in their feud along the first run…. And the third one that the dream to achieve a place in Europe for the next season is now more alive than never. Atletico has known how to benefit of the slips-up of their direct rivals in the fight to obtain a place at the top of the chart and, thanks to the three points achieved against Racing, the red-and-whites ones are located three points away of the European positions in the table.

The victory against Racing wasn’t an easy task. The Cantabrian team standed firmly on the field, especially at the midfield, where the pressure of the visitors made very difficult the creation by the red-and-white midfielders, composed by Colsa and Gabi. Their efforts to connect with Kezman and Torres didn't find award, only some danger arrived thanks to the runs by Petrov’s side. By the Bulgarian came the first great chance of Atletico, when he tested the reflexes of Dudu in a shot that took the direct road toward the squad. Meanwhile, Racing also created danger thanks to several fast-breaks that in more than one chance put Leo Franco in a tight spot.

The lack of success finishing and the shortage of ideas played the rest of the first half. In spite of enjoying chances, the match didn't find his owner and both teams, very dedicated, looked for the forced errors with pressure, and some times with hard game.

The second half brought new airs to the red-and-white lines. Pepe Murcia’s players came out decided to search for the win in the match, with clearer ideas: They want to be the ball’s owners at the midfield, to accelerate the match’s rhythm and to press at the forward line thanks to the effort of the forward players. The order took little to have effect: A good center by Gabi to the area caused a crash among Colsa and Ayoze that the referee understood worthy of penalty. Fernando Torres was the one in charge to execute the penalty, and he didn't fail. The captain deceived Dudu completely and he scored his eleventh goal in the present edition of La Liga.

Little lasted the happiness for the ‘colchoneros’, since hardly some instants later Racing tied the match by a corner serve that found Damia. In spite of the setback, Atletico didn't lower their arms and they were able to hardly later respond three minutes with an unstoppable Pablo Ibañez’s header passed by Petrov. Lacking of a brilliant performance, the breed and the work finally were the keys of the local victory that from that point they just limited themselves to control the situation and to keep Racing far from Leo Franco’s area until the end of the match.


Photo: J. A. Sirvent