The breavement between Villarreal and Atletico was settled with a valuable tie for the red-and-whites against a direct rival and in a very complicated Stadium, like it is El Madrigal. Fernando Torres didn't miss his appointment with the goal in front of one of the favorite rivals in his scoring facet: The captain's splendid shot was good enough to tie the match and to keep intact the aspirations of Atletico in the fight for the European area of the table.

Pepe Murcia’s players proved from the first minute that his only objective was to win, Fernando Torres took only four minutes in giving the first warning when he received the ball in the small area, although the rear was awake and was able to avoid the shot. On the other hand, the local team was more lucky soon after and in one of their first arrivals to Diego Forlan’s area opened the scoreboard of El Madrigal by a pass of the ex-red-and-white Jose Mari.

Nine minutes and the match was already uphill for Atletico. The character and trust that Pepe Murcia has inculcated to the players highlighted on the grass of El Madrigal, and soon Torres and Kezman warned Viera that they won't lower the arms making two runs into the area. Luccin also tried it from outside the area with a potent shot that left high. The red-and-white domain increased as minutes were passing, although they found greater difficulty to plait a clear chance of goal. The persistent rain began to hinder the circulation of the ball and the precision in the passes lowered considerably, propitiating errors in the delivery.

Villarreal worked with sense to conserve the advantage at the scoreboard and, just by a chance, to be able to increase the advantage in an electric fast-break that would capitalize Jose Mari's and Forlan’s speed. The Andalusian could increase the difference at 40' with a shot from the right, although Leo Franco was awake and could stop the ball. Just a step for the half-time, Kezman made a shot thanks to a quick foul-kick by Galletti. The Serbian, alone in front of Viera, crossed in excess and couldn’t score the goal of the tie.

The start of the second half showed two teams aware of what they were playing of and ready to achieve their objectives. Villarreal trying to keep their advantage, and the red-and-whites overturned in offense searching the tie through a shot of Kezman. The offensive work of Atletico finished bearing his fruit at 57'. Peter Luccin sent a pass to Torres that, after losing his markers, he rose over the area marking the times and heading the French's pass far from the hands of Viera. An exquisite header with great plasticity, at last would be worth a basic point for not losing positions in the fight for Europe. Hardly three minutes after Leo Franco avoided under his crossbar the second goal of the local team.

At 69' the captain assumed the leading role making a run into the area by a pass from Ibagaza who saw clearly the shake off by Torres, but the captain couldn’t connect the shot. Five minutes later 'El Caño' passed to Keman inside the area and Viera saved again the confrontation with the Serbian, who end up watching his red card for double caution few minutes left for the end of the match.

Definitively none of both teams was able to break the tie and the match was settled with points-sharing at The Madrigal.


Photo: J. A. Sirvent