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Starting XI
| ALINEACIÓN
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) March 18, 2018
¡Nuestro ONCE INICIAL! ¡Aquí está!
⚪️ ¡Atleti, yo te amo! #AúpaAtleti #VillarrealAtleti pic.twitter.com/V2b74izxM3
Oblak (5): It is odd to see an off game from Oblak, but he conceded two costly goals — one of which he should have stopped from point-blank range (the winner). He probably isn’t fully fit, either.
Vrsaljko (7): Vrsaljko did well to push up the flank and add to the attack. He won most of his one-on-one duels and sent in some well-placed crosses. Expect him to take more touches in the coming weeks with Filipe Luís out for the season as Atlético seek wide playmaking of any kind.
Godín (6.5): Godín made nine clearances but couldn’t see the back line through the 90 minutes, with Atlético Madrid under heavy pressure and conceding twice inside the final 10 minutes.
Giménez (6.5): Similar performance to Godín. Decent, not great.
Lucas (7): With Filipe done for the season, Lucas will be seeing a lot more minutes in the left back position. He made seven tackles in the match but could not add to the attack in the way Filipe can.
Correa (6): Correa played 71 minutes and could not make a huge impact on the wing. Villarreal were very physical with the Argentine and he couldn’t quite get going. Coming off two solid performances in the first and second legs against Lokomotiv Moscow, it was disappointing having to see him taken off.
Saúl (6.5): Saúl completed nearly 90 percent of his passes in the match but played too deep in midfield most of the time. He also got beat to the cross that Ünal headed past Oblak to level the scores.
Thomas (6.5): Thomas played an average to slightly-above average game, slowing down the opposition attack and serving as a decent passing outlet in midfield. He must avoid a booking against Deportivo La Coruña in order to be eligible for the April 8 Madrid Derby.
Correa (6): Correa played 71 minutes and could not make a huge impact on the wing. Villarreal were very physical with the Argentine and he couldn’t quite get going. Coming off two solid performances in the first and second legs against Lokomotiv Moscow, it was disappointing having to see him taken off.
Koke (7): Koke had a solid match and was unlucky not to score with a first half effort hitting the post. He tracked back on defense a lot during the match and picked up four tackles as well as two blocked shots.
Griezmann (7.5): Griezmann converted his penalty in the 20th minute, giving Atlético the lead and continuing his hot goalscoring streak. He was subbed off in the 81st minute for Gabi, moments before Ünal scored his first goal.
Costa (6.5): Costa has done a stellar job complimenting Griezmann by holding up the play and allowing passing lanes to flow open. He did that again Sunday but really slowed down in the second half. Might he be carrying an injury?
Subs
Vitolo (3): Vitolo played 18 minutes and, despite some positive signs, was shown a red card and hurt his team. Enough said.
Gabi (5): Gabi came on the pitch in the 81st minute for Griezmann right before Ünal scored. His entrance invited more and more Villarreal pressure.
Fernando Torres (5): Torres’ entrance wasn’t detrimental to the team, but in five minutes he just could not do much in the match.