Pepe Murcia’s Atletico keeps going in the good way. The red-and-white fans, still with the good flavor of the great game against Barça, enjoyed a new triumph of their team in League. This time, the victim was Real Sociedad (1-0), and with this red-and-white victory they stay up at four straigt ones: twelve of twelve points that put them closer bit more to the high zone of the table.

The red-and-white coach chose against Real Sociedad the same starting that he displayed at Camp Nou Stadium, being harmed Mateja Kezman. The Serb didn’t know at the begining from the bench that he would be the main player for the victory. Atletico start the match ofensively, with desire to ratify at Calderon Stadium the play shown last week at Barcelona. But they didn’t expect Real Sociedad’s offensive attitude, that they also had. As a matter fact, the team from San Sebastian had the clearest chances of beginning of the macth, the referee even annulled a goal of the ex-red-and-white player Alvaro Novo. This attitude caused an exchange of fouls between both teams, but noone was right to open the scoreboard. The clearest chance for the locals was from Maxi, but Riesgo beat him in the confrontation between them.

The match turned rough and Atletico didn't find their place over the field, Ibagaza wasn’t able to connect with the forward line, and those looked for alternatives far from their position. In the 32' Galletti was forced to abandon the field due to physical problems, opportunity that Murcia took advantage to give Kezman entrance inside the field. Things didn't change too much, and Real even had at their hands a goal in a shot by Jauregi that Fernando Torres saved over the goal line.

The second half started without news. The team from San Sebastian refused to give up the victory and they continuded with sieging Leo Franco’s goal. Minutes were passing and Atletico didn't find the way towards the victory, inaccuracies were continuous and they hardly created goal chances. The clearest one was a shot by Kezman that stand up the fans, it was the warning of what would arrive soon later. The match seemed hopelessly heading to the tie, something that the red-and-whites ones refused to accept, and with ten minutes to go they found recompense: Ibagaza gave a depth pass to Fernando Torres at the right side, the captain made a cross pass to the area and Kezman took advantage of the assist to beat Riesgo with a strong header. Calderon exploded of joy: the surprise this time was at their side and they celebrated at the end of the match, the victory that was the fourth straigt one for Atletico under Pepe Murcia’s orders.


Photo: J. A. Sirvent