Having given Barcelona plenty of trouble at Chapin on Wednesday, Xerez were looking to cause Atletico Madrid similar problems. But the capital side took just five minutes to carve open the Azulinos backline when Sergio Aguero drilled in a cross from the left for Diego Forlan, but the Uruguayan couldn’t finish with just Renan to beat. Five minutes later, the hosts’ rearguard was breached again, this time from the right as Jose Antonio Reyes’ deep cross bobbled towards the backpost but Aguero and Jurado got their signals crossed as they both went for the ball, only to end up leaving it for the other. ‘El Kun’ would not spurn a shooting chance moments later but his low drive from angle was saved by an alert Renan. Los Colchoneros continued to pile on incessant pressure and Reyes really should have given his team the lead on 17 minutes. Aguero, who had already been involved in almost every single attacking move, lofted in a perfectly weighted cross for Reyes to rifle in a low volley from 12 yards out, but Renan somehow miraculously turned it around the post with a reflex block. Xerez, who had their president, Carlos de Osma resign from his position on Thursday due to death threats, created plenty of openings against Barca in midweek, but they never had any answers against Atleti, who deservedly took the lead on 28 minutes. Reyes launched a lightning counter attack with a 40 yard through ball to Forlan, who pulled away from his marker and easily slotted past Renan.
Cuco Ziganda’s side had to wait until the 40th minute before even attempting a shot at Sergio Asenjo’s goal but Mario Bermejo’s left foot strike on the edge of the box flew over. Xerez did, however, end the half positively when Carlos Calvo curled in a gorgeous freekick from 25 yards out, but it was well saved by Asenjo. The Andalucian minnows picked up the second half where they had left off with Bermejo testing Asenjo with a cross-shot, before Sidi Keita headed over from a corner. Atletico, however, really should have buried the game in the 56th minute but Renan again pulled off an unbelievable point-blank save to deny Jurado’s close range header from Forlan’s cross. But Atletico ended all hopes of a brave Xerez fightback when they made it 2-0 on 65 minutes. Paulo Assuncao looped a beautiful long ball from inside his own half to Aguero, who brought it down and finished coolly with a clever chip over an advancing Renan.
With the insurance goal in the bag, Quique Sanchez Flores’ troops decided to take their foot off the pedal in the closing stages as Los Azulinos pressed forward and piled on the pressure. They were presented with a glimmer of hope in the 82nd minute when Atletico’s often wobbly backfour was reduced to three after Alvaro Dominguez was sent off. But it mattered little as Atletico held firm to claim a comfortable 2-0 victory to move up to mid-table.
http://www.footytube.com/video/deportivo-xerez-atletico-madrid-dec05-28895
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