Espanyol 2 Atlético 3: The Latest Review EVER

By: Greg | December 23rd, 2008

Sorry everyone! I’ve been meaning to write about this, but a sickness has kept me bedridden and unmotivated. But better late than never, right? Okay, too be completely honest, I stupidly assumed that this La Liga match wouldn’t not be on anywhere to watch. Thankfully, my friend Drew and the Spurs Offside told me that it was streaming on justin.tv, so I quickly dropped what I was doing and ran downstairs to watch it. I just caught the match as soon as our captain Maxi Rodriguez score the first goal in the seventh minute, set up by Kun Agüero, 0-1. After that goal, Espanyol pushed strong, forcing Leo Franco to show some impressive saves.

In the 32nd minute, Kun got another break away, dribbling passed defender Daniel Jarque twice, only to shoot just wide of the right hand post. Thirteen minutes after half time, Sergio Sanchez shot the ball into the upper right corner with a half volley, setting the score at 1-1. in the 77′ minute, Maniche set up Kun with a great cross into the box, which Agüero is able to control, but unable to score from. Four minutes later, Agüero’s effort is finally rewarded with a goal from some shotty defending from the Espanyol back line, 1-2. Just eight minutes later, its almost 2-2 from an impressive strike from Nenê outside the box, thankfully he was offside. Just when I was about to call the game, El Capitan Maxi Rodriguez scores another one after dribble passed RCD defender Sergio Sanchez and hit it hard into the back of Kameni’s net, 1-3. About to call the game AGAIN, Espanyol score, this time from a corner, letting Valdo make it 2-3. At this point, I started to think of Arsenal’s unlucky draw against Tottenham Hotspurs earlier this season, when the Spurs were able to pull it back from 4-2 to 4-4 in the last few minutes of the game, but thankfully the ref blew the whistle. FULL TIME.

RCD Espanyol 2 – 3 Atlético Madrid

for Highlights, check out the video below.

With this win before the La Liga winter break, Atlético are pushed into 3rd place. Javier Aguirre was definitely pleased with his squad, as his goal was to be in Champion’s League qualification spot by the break. Our next match is against Valencia at Estadio Mestalla on the 4th of NEXT YEAR, so hopefully our squad enjoys their holiday before this big game. Also with this Holiday break comes the January Transfer window, which obviously gets everyone a little excited. Not too many rumors on the Atlético front, although I have heard a few times about Álvaro Arbeloa of Liverpool coming to Atlético. What do you think? Personally, I’d like to see us have another striker, not that I don’t trust our impressive strike force now, but just for back up? Who or what type of player would you like to see, or see fit to come to Vicente Calderón?

Aupa Atleti!