To complete 200 official matches dressing the elastic of Atletico is not an easy task, and particularly with 22 years... this achievement is already in the hands of Fernando Torres who celebrated the bicentenary next to his fans twice: With a goal and with a victory by the minimum against Athletic that helps the ‘colchoneros’ not losing the sight of the European horizon.

The match started after a felt minute of silence in memory of Miguel Perez. During the first minutes both squads seemed to be very planted on the field, but with few ideas to break the rival defence. The first one to try it was Fernando Torres who made a run into the area sending a pass behind which didn't find finisher. Soon after Mateja Kezman left injured the field in favour of Fernando Marques who connected perfectly in the forward line with the captain's movements. Half an hour in the game the '9' tried it again from outside the area, this time with a low shot that came out by the bottom line.

Clemente's Athletic remained faithful to a conservative style that allowed them to keep their goal to null until half time, although the lions also enjoyed chances to inaugurate the scoreboard. The clearest one was by Urzaiz who met with Leo Franco great skill twice. With this chance finished the first half in which anyone of both teams could have achieved advantage in the scoreboard.

After half time the panorama didn't change too much. Atletico continued with the initiative but without depth, and their rival was expecting crouch a saviour fast-break. Yeste frightened for the red-and-white parish when he planted himself alone in front of Leo Franco after a long gallop, but Perea proved his physical power and after a spectacular gallop he saved the goal when it seemed inevitable.

Minutes passed and the scoreboard seemed hopelessly anchored in the initial tie to zero. Then Fernando Torres appeared to save the three points. A distant foul kick by Gabi found the player from Fuenlabrada who, entering from behind, headed the ball to the bottom of the net. After the celebration with his team-mates, the captain dedicated the goal to the recently deceased Miguel Perez.

The red-and-white goal served as an incentive for the ‘lions’ that, without anything to lose, they took the initiative searching for the tie. During the last nine minutes of the match Clemente’s players claimed a penalty by Antonio Lopez's grab on the area’s line, but the referee didn't appreciate it and awarded the foul outside of Leo Franco’s area. There was still a fright left for the red-and-white fans, when Llorente planted himself alone in front of the Argentinean goalkeeper, but the shot of the youth striker left deflected. Finally, the referee pointed out the way to the locker rooms giving the victory to Atletico.


Photo: J. A. Sirvent