15 of 15. These are the points that Pepe Murcia’s Atletico has added in the last five games of the National Championship League. A trajectory that has taken the red-and-white team from the low area of the table to be located four points from UEFA. The great victory against Getafe (0-3) proved that the good run of the ‘colchoneros’ isn’t an illusion, and that they win and convince thanks to a good way of playing, breed and, mainly, goals.

The tremendous hailstorm that fell on some areas of the Comunidad of Madrid propitiated that the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez showed an aspect more characteristic of Nuevo Zorrilla or Reino de Navarra Stadiums: Totally covered with ice. Players took long to adapt themselves to the adverse field’s conditions, although Petrov, maybe more used to cold, he was the first one testing Calatayud’s reflex. Soon after, Kezman coudn’t hit a center to the area from Torres. The captain nearly take advantage of an error in the delivery of the defense to inaugurate the scoreboard, but the shot with the left foot went out rubbing the post. The honor of scoring the first goal was for Peter Luccin who kicked a hard shot from the frontal of the area and nothing could do Calatayud to avoid it.

Atletico took the midfield’s control, thanks to the French's push and to the quality of Ibagaza. With advantage at the scoreboard, the red-and-white team exploited the fast-break speed to the maximum level, as Fernando Torres proved in an action when, after recovering the ball at his area, he traveled across the left side with a fast race and crossed to Kezman who shot high. Getafe also had their opportunities, a foul of Pernia and a double chance that Leo Franco saved with solvency.

After half-time the wind continued blowing favoring Atletico. Hardly lapsed three minutes in the second half, Maxi took adventage of a reject, he dribbled Pernia and he scored the second goal thanks to a precise shot that entered by the goalmouth. The difference of two goals at the scoreboard was heavy for the local players that were overturned searching to reduce differences, although far from reducing, they were increased at 64': Luccin put a depth ball to Torres that thoroughly used his speed to leave behind Belenguer and he carried out an unstoppable right-handed kick that became the definitive 0-3.

With the match on the right track, Pepe Murcia replaced Ibagaza for Gabi. The game lost intensity and the minutes were just passing under Atletico’s control. At last, the Andalusian trainer finished the changes moving away the maximum scorers of the team, Maxi and Fernando Torres who left the field under the ovation of the fans who went to Getafe to support to the red-and-white team.


Photo: J. A. Sirvent