Atletico of Madrid settled with three goals the match against Cadiz at the third straight wins of the red-and-whites, after winning to U. D. Las Palmas in ‘Copa del Rey’ and to Racing in League. Three points served Carlos’ Bianchi players to make one more step towards the longed European zone of the table, which places themselves already just two points away.

Just starting the match the local team looked for the game, four minutes took Petrov to demonstrate his intentions with a powerful shot out side the area. Kezman, also was moving dangerous around Armando's area leading a couple of arrivals, one of them from a Fernando’ Torres pass. The captain was also looking for the goal, when he was victim of Raul's Lopez grip in the area, action that could well finish in a penalty kick if the referee would had indicated it. Pavoni led the answer of the yellow ones by a shot that rubbed the set square, but the stands of Calderon Stadium had to wait to the 23' to see the first goal of the match: Maxi sent to the bottom of the net an Antonio's Lopez measured center, so he scored his first goal in front of his fans.

Atletico got the game under control and lowered the pace of the match, something that Cadiz’ players took advantage to look for Leo Franco's goal area with criterion and touching the ball, though with excessive innocence at the time of shoting. Close to the end of the first half, Paz had the chance to tie the game with a header from a corner-kick at the small area, but the ball went out deflected.

After half-time, Atletico jumped to the field with the idea of finishing off the task, though with the premise of not granting advantages in rear. This way, Torres and Kezman were the players to test once again Armando, who stopped a powerful shot of the captain from the front of the area. Four minutes later, Martin Petrov kick off a corner that Pablo turned into the second goal thanks to a splendid header. Cadiz lowered definitively their arms, something that Carlos Bianchi took advantage to move the bench. With two goals of advantage in the score and considering the pressed of the calendar, he gave entry to Ibagaza for Maxi, Kezman for Gabi and Galletti for Fernando Torres, who yielded the captain's bracelet to the 'Caño' Ibagaza. In the following ten minutes, there still was time to enjoy another goal with Argentine flavor, the one that Galletti scored beating low the Cadiz goalkeeper.

After two victories in League in the last five days against Racing and Cadiz, Atletico will seek to complete a 'fantastic week' in the competition achieving a victory next Sunday against Villarreal at Vicente Calderon Stadium.


Photo: J. A. Sirvent