First Division - Day 23

Atlético Madrid 3 - Eibar 1

Atlético: Oblak; Jesús Gámez, Giménez, Saúl Ñíguez, Lucas Hernández; Thomas (Oliver Torres 59‘), Gabi, Koke, Carrasco (Fernando Torres 75‘); Griezmann, Correa (Vietto 59‘). 4-4-2.
Eibar: Riesgo; Capa, Lillo, Mauro Dos Santos, Juncà; Dani García, Escalante (Takashi Inui 69‘); Keko (Saúl Berjón 84‘), Adrián González (Radosevic 90‘), Jota Peleteiro; Sergi Enrich. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 46. Keko. Lifted shot past Oblak after Sergi Enrich won ball off Saúl Ñíguez.
1-1. 56. Giménez. Ran in from behind to head Koke corner in from close to goal.
2-1. 63. Saúl Ñíguez. Got above defence to head Koke corner wide of Riesgo.
3-1. 91. Fernando Torres. Got on the end of Vietto cross to slide ball into the net.

Yellow cards: Thomas 16’, Keko 66’, Griezmann 85’, Lillo 86’, Juncà 88’.

Atlético Madrid moved level with leaders Barcelona pending their game on Sunday after beating Eibar 3-1 in the first game on Saturday evening. Both coaches were forced to make changes to their line-ups, Simeone having to draft in Sául Ñíguez as a makeshift defender with three of his first choice back four suspended and Savic indisposed, and Mendilibar having to find a replacement for top scorer Borja Bastón, who was unavailable for contractual reasons. Although it was a lively first half, neither keeper had a real save to make. However just a minute after the restart Keko put the visitors in front after Saúl gave the ball away to Sergi Enrich. It only took a quarter of an hour though for Atleti to turn the scores around, Giménez and Saúl heading in Koke corners, and Vietto had a strike ruled out for a borderline offside soon afterwards. The introduction of Fernando Torres livened things up after that, Riesgo having to keep him out a couple of times before he got on the end of Vietto’s cross to finally score his 100 th goal in an Atlético shirt. Curiously youngster Lucas Hernández was amongst the first to congratulate him. His dad was on the pitch when “El Niño” got his first!