Atlético de Madrid couldn't get past a draw against Villarreal at the Metropolitano, a result that leaves the rojiblancos with a bitter taste. After the match, Kiko Narváez, in his usual analysis, highlighted the importance of Rodrigo De Paul in Simeone's scheme. He pointed him out as the key player on whom much of the colchonero's play relies.
"Atlético Plays on the Back of De Paul"
The former rojiblanco player analyzed the match and directly pointed to the Argentine midfielder, who once again proved to be the team's engine. "We can say that this Atlético de Madrid plays on the back of the football that De Paul has in his cleats. He has been working tirelessly for months and is the one who sets the pace for the team in the midfield," commented Kiko in his column for AS.
De Paul was present in every important action for Atlético, helping in recovery, distributing the play, and leading the offensive transitions. His influence was evident, although it wasn't enough for Simeone's team to secure the three points.
A Draw with a Bittersweet Taste
Narváez didn't hesitate to highlight that, despite the rojiblanco's effort, the team wasn't able to capitalize on their opportunities. "It was a shame to go into halftime with a 0-1 when Atlético was the only one contending for victory. In the second half, the same patterns continued, with boldness and offensive football, but without decisiveness in the areas, which ultimately affected the result," he explained.
The equalizing goal came from a well-crafted play finished by Samuel Lino, who was once again decisive from the left flank. However, the team couldn't translate their dominance into the scoreboard, letting two important points slip away in the fight for LaLiga.
"A Match of Sensations, Not Numbers"
For Kiko Narváez, the result is more concerning for what it means in the standings than for the team's performance. "I'm not going to talk about meritocracy because, if you don't take advantage of your chances, the final result will be fair. But, if we analyze the approach, the rojiblancos bet more on victory than the yellows. It's a draw that hurts more in the numbers than in the sensations," stated the former forward.
Atlético must now quickly change gears, as the next challenge will be in the Champions League against Salzburgo. Kiko concluded his analysis looking forward: "The important thing is to keep conveying the good sensations of this team. If Atlético maintains the intensity and approach we saw against Villarreal, the results will come."