Second consecutive Friday that the red-and-white reserve team plays at home, this time hosting Villarreal B in a reserve team duel. An important match for Fernando Torres's team, which maintains an irregular streak where they string together home victories with away defeats. The opposite of the beginning of the season, when they went winless in Majadahonda and scored or won away from the hill.
The red-and-white team with some changes compared to the line-up Torres presented against Sanluqueño, with some new additions. These are at left-back, with Julio Díaz coming in for Dani Martínez, the return of Javi Boñar for Carlos Giménez, and the presence of Selu Diallo for Jano Monserrate. The team lined up with Iturbe, Martín Pascual, Kostis, Boñar, and Julio Díaz, Javi Serrano, Joaquín, Selu Diallo, Rayane, Bri, and Omar Janneh.
Atleti started commanding the match and within five minutes already warned the groguet team, Diego Bri reached the flank and the visiting defense prevented it. Later, it was Javi Serrano who tried his luck with a shot from outside the area that went wide. So much warning that the goal was about to fall, and it did, Diego Bri once again reaching the flank served it to Omar, who this time managed to push it into the net.
Selu Diallo Returned to the Starting line-up
First goal at home for the Catalan forward born in Lleida, although he did score two others against Hércules and Recreativo, they were far from the red-and-white scene. The red-and-whites settled into the match and began to command with a great Selu Diallo, who returned to the starting line-up today. With the midfielder's help, Atleti caused and launched to the wings, Rayane in a delicacy with the heel assisted Bri, but he couldn't finish.
They went into the break leading 1-0, achieving so far the third consecutive home victory. The second half began with Atleti pouring toward the yellow goal, with a great chance from Janneh that Rubén cleared. Villarreal B replied with a shot from Daniel, well repelled by Alejandro Iturbe.
Julio Díaz Another Standout
The local team had another great chance after a fantastic cross from Julio Díaz that Javi Boñar headed onto the crossbar. Dani Martínez was Fernando Torres's first change, due to Joaquín González's injury, and Villarreal almost equalized. Quintero assisted Etta Eyong, and he couldn't get past a huge Iturbe who became giant to cover the goal.
Fernando Torres made substitutions by bringing in Jano Monserrate and Adri Niño for Selu Diallo and Omar Janneh. Those changes brought calm to Atleti, who dominated the rest of the match quite calmly. The groguets pressed with lateral crosses and the danger of Quintero, one of the most unbalancing players of the Castellonenses.
The last two changes made by the Fuenlabrada native were the entries of Iker Luque and David Muñoz for Diego Bri and Rayane Belaid. Villarreal had the last chance with a shot from Quintero that was cleared by Martín Pascual and Kostis. Third consecutive home victory for the red-and-whites, after defeating Alcorcón and Hércules, today they also sleep in the play-off zone.