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05/ 05/ 12
| Doing it for the captains
| • Simeone’s men come back from 0-1 down • Goals from Adrian & Koke inspired and kept alive the dreams of the Champions League • Perea and Antonio Lopez were honored before the game
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Atletico never give up. After two hammer blows in the final minutes in league games against Betis and Real sociedad. Simeone's team showed their will to fight for any cause. Malaga went 0-1 up thanks to an unstoppable shot from Eliseu. Koke levelled the scores on the volley from a corner and Adrian put Atletico ahead to on a one-on-one with Kameni. The Spaniard ran to the bench and showed the shirts of Perea and Antonio Lopez, who were honored at the start of the meeting. It was the perfect finishing touch in a game that keeps alive the dream of seeing Atletico in the Champions League. Nexts stop, Bucharest.
After the tribute, the football began. Malaga came out better, and had the first chance with some of the Calderon supporters yet to settle in to their seat. Isco found space in the heart of the defence and after receiving a pinpoint pass found himself in on Courtois. Lucky that the long legs of the Belgian goalkeeper kept the ball away from his goal.
The game opened up and both teams had chances. First, Joaquin tested the keeper from the edge of the area, the Salvio tried his luck from distance. The Argentine didn’t hit the target on this occasion.
Falcao then came closest to opening the scoring. Played in by Adrian from the left, his right footed effort from just 6 yards out went agonisingly wide of Kameni’s goal.
The rain was beating down in the Spanish capital and it was the visitor who adapted best with Cazorla, Joaquin and Isco controlling play forcing Diego and Salvio in to more defensive roles, which affected the offensive side of the red and white’s game.
After 33 minutes, Courtois was again called in to action. A mix up between Tiago and Miranda lead to Isco playing in Rondon. The striker only had Courtois to beat, but his shot went just wide of the Belgians left hand post.
Onthe37th minute, Malaga goal came. A corner from the right was cleared to Eliseu who struck a thunderbolt of a shot that flew in to the top left hand corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.
Simeone’s men came out in the second half and after 10 minutes the chances began to come for the home side.
After 66 minutes, it was another corner that lead to a goal. This time Kameni punched clear to the edge of the area, where Koke was waiting to strike the ball first time, levelling the score and sending the Calderon faithful in to ecstasy.
Malaga looked to bounce back but Courtois rescued the team in a one on one Seba, Atletico took that as a sign to go for the victory, introducing Arda Diego who received an extraordinary ovation from the Calderon. Not long after Adrian’s goal came. The Spaniard beat Kameni from the edge of the area and ran to the bench to show Perea and Antonio Lopez shirts to the crowd, dedicating the victory to them.
The goal and result moved Atletico up to fifth place just two points behind Malaga. The Andalusians come up against...
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