Atletico Madrid Tekuk Tim Promosi Eibar 2-1
Atletico Madrid Beat Newly-promoted Eibar 2-1 in First La Liga Home Game
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
Barcelona (B2B) - Juara bertahan Atletico Madrid berhasil mengamankan kemenangan tipis atas tim promosi Eibar dengan skor akhir 2-1 dalam laga lanjutan La Liga Spanyol di Vincente Calderon, Minggu pagi WIB.
Gol Atletico dicetak oleh pemain belakang Joao Miranda pada menit 11 dan penyerang Mario Mandzukic menit 25.
Sementara gol balasan Eibar dilesakkan oleh bek kiri Abraham Mineiro pada menit 33, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Kemenangan tersebut menjadi kado manis bagi pelatih Diego Simeone yang menjalani laga ke-100 bersama Atletico sejak pertama kali menangani klub Ibu Kota Spanyol itu pada tengah musim 2011-2012 lalu.
Meski kalah, Eibar, berstatus tim promosi yang dua musim lalu masih menghuni kasta ketiga sepak bola Spanyol itu cukup merepotkan juara bertahan dan bahkan secara keseluruhan laga menguasai 57 persen kendali bola.
Hanya saja, mereka tidak mampu mengkonversi penguasaan bola tersebut menjadi peluang-peluang yang cukup berbahaya.
Barcelona - Atletico Madrid held on to beat Eibar 2-1 on Saturday to record an unconvincing first win of the Spanish league season as the defending champions continue to struggle without suspended coach Diego Simeone.
Atletico received the trophy as champions of last season before the match to the delight of the packed Vicente Calderon Stadium.
And it looked ready to keep the celebration going after taking a 2-0 lead in a one-sided half hour following headed goals by Miranda and Mario Mandzukic in the 11th and 25th minutes.
But Eibar defender Abraham Minero´s gorgeous goal in the 33rd apparently made the promoted club believe it could compete, and the modest Basque side kept its chances to draw alive through a second half that had the home fans on edge.
Also, Athletic Bilbao routed Levante 3-0, Sevilla won 2-1 at Espanyol, and Celta Vigo settled for a 1-1 draw at Cordoba.
Whether it´s the absence of their inspirational coach on the sideline or the goals of Diego Costa from the last campaign, Atletico has yet to show the same intensity and conviction that powered it to last season´s league title.
