Atletico of Madrid confirmed with a victory against Betis the candidacy to the European places of the table (0-1). The red and white team achieved their third victory in League far away from Calderon with a goal by Galletti and added three gold points that consolidate them at the noble part of the classification. The triumph appeared thanks to a serious analysis, without boasting, very practice and thanks to a clear hero: Leo Franco. The Argentinean goalkeeper kept the result twice, blocking two penalties.

The first movements of the match showed an exchange of hits between both teams, a come and go game in which Fernando Torres was very close to score with a header that Meli intercepted with ability. The captain formed again the group with Agüero and among both of them they made the play that turned out to be the first goal of the red and white team and after all the only one of the match. Agüero executed a play with Torres that broke the rival’s defense and ended with a Galletti’s shot that beat Contreras.

Already with advantage in the scoreboard they opted to close backwards and to use the speed of their strikers to surprise in a fast break. Fernando Torres tried it with an individual move, but the shot with the right was intercepted by the green and white goalkeeper. Maniche also tried it just before half-time and could increase the difference without opposition, but the Portuguese sent the ball too high. Torres closed the chances of the first half heading a rejected ball in the area.

At the second half Atletico of Madrid had to suffer too much to keep their advantage at the scoreboard against Betis that throw themselves desperately looking for the tie. Irureta’s players could’ve got the three points but Leo Franco made a brilliant participation blocking both penalties. The first one was at 50’ when Perea aborted a play by Solis at the area and the second one; more doubtful, at 76’ when the referee watched penalty in a struggle among Seitaridis and Fernando. In both times Leo Franco showed his mastery blocking the two shots with editorial moves: neither Edu nor Fernando were able to achieve to lie the Argentinean goalkeeper who guessed the intention of the shooter in both shots.

Aguirre decided to finished the changes twenty minutes for the end of the match, giving entrance to Jurado instead of Galleti and Costinha instead of Fernando Torres, leaving Mista as the only striker, who substituted Agüero at the beginning of the second half. The important thing was to keep the advantage and the red and white team hardly made anymore offensive actions, letting the initiative to their rival that wasn’t able to find the way for the tie. Hardly an opportunity by Dani in the last moments worried to the red and white team that finally saw their objective fulfilled: to get three more points and finished Saturday at Champions places.


Photo: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com