The referee has indicated there will be 2 minutes of additional time at the end of the match.
88'
T. Partey has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Y. Carrasco.
AND ITS 3 FOR ATLETICO MADRID! With the entire Las Palmas team in Atletico’s half looking for a goal to cut the deficit, a misplaced pass leads to a 2-on-1 situation with both Carrasco and Thomas Partey bearing down on goal. Unselfishly, Carrasco manages to draw the keeper out of position and slip the ball across for the substitute Partey, who has the time to take a touch before placing it in the empty net.
Carrasco's selflessness leads to an assist as the Belgian, who could have easily slotted past Chichizola himself, opts to pass it off to Partey for a goal that could have been walked into the net. All credit to Carrasco who forced the turnover and created room for the goal. He has looked lively since being introduced at half-time.
85'
Alejandro Gálvez gets yellow.
Galvez looks to stop yet another Atletico attack but his tackle is not timed with any accuracy and his leg made contact with Vitolo who immediately goes to ground. The free-kick is in a central position and certainly in striking distance for Griezmann who stands over it.
82'
Saúl gets yellow.
Saul receives a yellow card after his dangling leg catches Gil who goes over in a heap. A mistimed, but not malicious tackle.
81'
T. Partey enters the game and replaces Á. Correa.
Simeone makes his third change quickly after his second as he looks to preserve the victory, and the clean sheet. Central midfielder Thomas Partey makes his way onto the pitch to take the place of Angel Correa who was instrumental in the build-up to Atletico’s second goal.
80'
Vitolo enters the game and replaces Fernando Torres.
Erik Expósito enters the game and replaces Dani Castellano.
It’s all or nothing for Las Palmas and Paco Jemez who throws caution to the wind and replaces a defender with a striker as Dani Castellano comes off for Erik Exposito.
Fernando Torres makes way for Vitolo in Simeone’s second substitution of the match. The veteran striker will be given the last 10 minutes to rest after scoring a crucial second goal.
79'
Griezmann is a little bit too physical in trying to defend against Toledo and the goal-scorer gives away a free-kick right beside the corner flag on the right. The cross comes in but a defender manages to get a touch to it with his head and clears the immediate danger.
77'
STAT: Las Palmas have a dreadful away record this season, managing 4 out of a possible thirty points when not playing in the Estadio de Gran Canaria.
73'
Fernando Torres has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Á. Correa.
Angel Correa did well to create the space for Torres to run into by dribbling dangerously and drawing defenders in. At the last possible moment, the Argentine forward slipped the ball to his left, allowing the former Liverpool and AC Milan striker to finish with relative comfort.
FERNANDO TORRES DOUBLES ATLETI’S ADVANTAGE! Griezmann makes a crucial interception in midfield and immediately finds Angel Correa in acres of space. Correa runs out of room but not before spreading play to Fernando Torres who continues his forward run, feints his body to get past Navarro and blasts it high into the net past Chichizola. A typically great counter-attacking goal from a Diego Simeone side and Atletico Madrid now look guaranteed for 3 points.
69'
Viera manages to wriggle free from two Atletico Madrid defenders and the creative midfielder tries to put the ball in the far corner, above Oblak, from outside of the penalty area. The keeper has absolutely no trouble with the catch and the build-up play ends disappointingly.
Minute
Description
67'
Ximo Navarro gets yellow.
Ximo Navarro receives a yellow card for bringing down Carrasco just outside of the penalty area. The defender slipped and after going to ground tried to impede the Atletico attacker. Navarro managed to disrupt the striker from the ground who promptly lost balance and fell to the floor as well.
63'
Carrasco almost makes it two! He jinks away from two defenders in the penalty area before trying to curl a shot in the top corner, but the Belgian international misses the target by an extremely narrow margin.
62'
Nacho Gil enters the game and replaces Jairo Samperio.
Las Palmas make their second substitution of the match directly after Atleti’s go-ahead goal, as Nacho Gil is brought on for Jairo Samperio.
61'
A. Griezmann has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Juanfran.
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN FINALLY GETS ON THE SCORESHEET! The ball is won in the Atletico defensive third by Juanfran who immediately looks up and sends a pass to Griezmann who was onside. The French striker runs the entire Las Palmas half with the ball at his foot before chipping Chichizola who had gone to ground early. 1-0 Atleti!
Juanfran is rightfully credited with the assist as it was his tackle which won the ball, and his pass which sent Griezmann in alone on goal. The right-back has been very involved offensively today and he finally has his reward.
59'
Vicente Gómez enters the game and replaces Tana.
Las Palmas make their first substitution of the afternoon as the ineffective Tana is removed in favour of Vicente Gomez.
58'
Torres gets away from a couple of markers well but his releasing pass to Carrasco is not of the necessary quality and Dani Castellano makes the interception. The game is getting increasingly stretched, so it seems only a matter of time before the deadlock is broken.
55'
Torres is unable to skip away from a challenge and loses the ball just in front of the penalty area. The high line of Las Palmas has stifled Atleti all day and Torres just does not seem to have the requisite pace to beat any of the four defenders. Perhaps Simeone will use one of his two remaining substitutions on the striker - though the manager is without new signing Diego Costa in this fixture.
51'
Hernan Toledo finds Calleri unmarked in the box and puts in a cross but Calleri’s diving header is defended well by Gimenez who reads the attackers intentions and manages to clear his box emphatically. Calleri has been Las Palmas’ most dangerous striker this year and if anyone is going to put the away side ahead, it would be the lone striker.
48'
A great defensive play by Las Palmas saves a sure goal as the cross is fired in from the right by Juanfran for Torres but a last-ditch challenge in the box puts the ball out for a corner kick. The ensuing corner is cleared quite easily and the back four can rest easy again for a moment.
46'
Y. Carrasco enters the game and replaces Koke.
Diego Simeone chooses to start the second half with a substitution, with Yannick Carrasco replacing Koke in midfield.
The referee blows his whistle and the second half is underway!
45'
The referee opts against any added time and calls the first-half of play to an end. At half-time its Atletico Madrid 0 - 0 Las Palmas.
43'
Las Palmas are moving forward quickly but the David Simon cross from the right is met comfortably by Godin to head away. The ball is recycled and comes back into the box but Oblak handles the shot without any worry.
40'
Antoine Griezmann is put through by a phenomenal ball from midfield but once again the French striker is called for venturing offside when the pass was played. Replays again suggest that the linesman made an incorrect call, as Griezmann adequately held his run. It has been a difficult day in that respect for the home-side who have had a couple of fifty-fifty decisions go against them.
36'
The home side are looking to slow the pace a little bit and assert their dominance. Simeone’s side do well in the buildup but the final ball from Correa through the defensive line is intercepted well by Navarro and the play breaks down. Atleti have had a couple of chances but they don’t seem quite synced up offensively.
32'
Correa has the ball on the right-wing with two strikers in the box waiting for service, but the wide-man slips at the least opportune time and the defence is luckily able to clear their lines.
30'
Chichizola wins a free-kick in questionable fashion after a Gabi plays a free-kick high into the box. The goalkeeper ventures out of his net to catch the ball and is contested by Juanfran. The ball goes through the hands of the keeper but the referee blows the play dead for an infringement on the Atleti right-back. The contact, if any, does not look to be significant and probably should not have affected the keeper as much as it did.
27'
David Simon is down and writhing in pain after getting clattered by Saul during an attempt to win the ball. The right-back eventually manages to walk off under his own power and subsequently return to the match, but the defender is noticeably limping.
25'
A BIT OF MAGIC FROM GRIEZMANN who receives a cross from Juanfran while in the penalty area and attempts to put it past Chichizola by his back foot while the ball was still bouncing. The Frenchman generates incredible power on the effort but his strike rifles off of the post and cannons back into play. That surely would have been a goal of the year contender had it managed to find its way past the keeper.
22'
A GREAT CHANCE FOR ATLETICO! Torres holds his run brilliantly and stays onside when the pass comes towards him. With space to move, the striker heads towards goal and takes a fantastically controlled shot which curled away from Chichizola’s far post. Torres was outside of the penalty area but was painfully close to placing his shot off the post and in.
20'
Juanfran works the same area that Torres did moments ago but the pass from the right-back to Gabi is struck while the midfielder was deemed to be in an offside position. A close decision but from second look it seems to be an incorrect one. Unlucky for the home side who would have been in a great crossing position on the right.
18'
A fantastic chance goes begging for Atletico!! A giveaway in midfield sees Griezmann quickly turn defence into attack with a long pass played towards Torres, who then slips it through to Gabi who is left unmarked in the penalty area. Unfortunately, the key pass is hit too long for the ageing midfielder and Chichizola does well to rush off his line and collect.
16'
Koke swings in the ball from the left where it is met harmlessly by the head of Saul who was facing the other way. The contact loops the ball up and it drops in the grateful grasp of Chichizola.
14'
Atletico Madrid win a free-kick in a great area as Torres is brought to the turf by the dangling leg of Galvez.
11'
Atletico Madrid are now enjoying a spell of possession in midfield that ends with the ball in Chichizola's hands after a long-ball played through to Fernando Torres strays too far for the veteran striker.
8'
Saul' puts his corner into a difficult area for Chichizola but the keeper gets a hand to it to punch the danger away.
5'
Koke is allowed to run through the Las Palmas defence but his shot is wayward of the goal and does not worry Chichizola in the Las Palmas goal.
4'
Las Palmas are starting the match with a very slow and controlled tempo in order to deny Atletico Madrid any possibility to counter-attack. Beating Atletico Madrid, especially at the Wanda, requires incredible amounts of patience. It will be interesting to see if the away side will be able to maintain their concentration for the full 90 minutes.
1'
Las Palmas get us underway, attacking from left to right!
Griezmann does strike the free-kick but his effort goes over the wall and over the crossbar. It is a poor effort that does not trouble Chichizola in the Las Palmas goal.
Atletico Madrid are experiencing a run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions since last beating Eibar in La Liga two weeks ago. A 3-1 defeat to Sevilla earlier this week knocked Simeone’s side out of the Copa Del Rey and with Barcelona surging at the top of the table, a win for Atletico is required today to stay in touching distance of the league leaders.
Las Palmas have been on a wretched run of form themselves, having conceded 13 goals in their last 4 matches including a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Girona. They arrested their poor results with a surprise win over Valencia last week, but that may not be enough to ensure survival as Las Palmas find themselves in the relegation zone, a point away from last place Malaga.
With fifteen minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been announced! Lets start with the home side!
Atletico Madrid starting XI (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Jose Maria Gimenez, Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez; Angel Correa, Gabi, Koke, Saul Niguez; Antoine Griezmann, Fernando Torres.
Atletico Madrid substitutes: Moya, Thomas Partey, Yannick Carrasco, Stefan Savic, Vitolo, Roberto Olabe, Giovanni.
Las Palmas Starting XI (4-5-1): Leandro Chichizola; Dani Castellano, Alejandro Galvez, Ximo Navarro, David Simon; Gabriel Penalba, Hernan Toledo, Tana, Jonathan Viera, Jairo Samperio; Jonathan Calleri.
Las Palmas substitutes: Nacho Gil, Raul Lizoain, Vicente Gomez, David Garcia, Alen Halilovic, Alberto Aquilani, Erik Exposito.
Atletico make 5 changes from their last La Liga tie, a draw with Girona. Oblak stays in goal but Vrsaljko and Savic lose their place to Juanfran in and Diego Godin respectively while the rest of the back line consists of Gimenez and Lucas Hernandez. In midfield, Partey and Carrasco drop out Gabi and Koke and Antoine Griezmann will start up front alongside Fernando Torres and not Diego Costa.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of the La Liga fixture between Atletico Madrid and Las Palmas at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Paco Jemez decides to switch to a 4-5-1 from the 4-3-3 he used successfully against Valencia but chooses to leave Chichizola in goal. The manager is forced to make one change in defence however, as Mauricio Lemos has departed Las Palmas for Sassuolo with David Simon called in as his replacement to play alongside Dani Castellano, Alejandro Galvez and Ximo Navarro. A midfield five of Gabriel Penalba, Hernan Toledo, Tana, Jonathan Viera and Jairo Samperio are deployed in order to support main striker – Jonathan Calleri.
Las Palmas have not had any real chances to disrupt Oblak in the home net despite having a decent share of possession. The away side are looking unable to attack with any menace or purpose, and it is no wonder why they own the second worst scoring total in La Liga. Despite the lack of any real threat, Paco Jemez’s men are still in the match and as long as the scores remain even, the manager will believe his side have a chance in nicking all 3 points.
For as lively as Torres has played, the best chance of the afternoon so far fell to the feet of Griezmann, whose back-foot effort smashed against the post despite the keeper having no play on the ball whatsoever. It has been that kind of afternoon for the home side, who have done well to create, but lacked the finishing touch.
The first-half has seen a fair share of chances, with most of the traffic flowing towards Chichizola’s net. Fernando Torres has attempted to play the role of both provider and goal-scorer but was thwarted in both roles in first period. His angled shot midway through the half was a fantastic effort but did not trouble the goalkeeper and his pass through to Gabi seemed to be inch-perfect, but the captain did not have the legs to catch up to the pass.
FULL-TIME: Atletico Madrid 3 - 0 Las Palmas.
A slow and uneventful first half gave way to an end-to-end second period which produced three goals for the home side. Las Palmas look to play good and attractive football, but their focus on possession and short passing ultimately led to their downfall. Constant turnovers in the midfield, especially when the defence is out of position cost the away side a point, and Paco Jemez should be concerned with his side’s susceptibility to the counter attack.
We hope you enjoyed our live commentary of the match between Atletico Madrid and Las Palmas! We look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Atletico Madrid now sit 8 points back of first place Barcelona in La Liga having played a game more, with an important clash against Valencia next up at the Wanda Metropolitano on February 4th. As for Las Palmas, they remain second-bottom of the league and have a potential fate-decider next week at home against the only club lower in the table than themselves – Malaga.
It was only a matter of time before Simeone’s side broke the deadlock and once one went in, the floodgates opened. The Atletico attack which appeared disjointed in the first half looked unified and organized in the second, and their incessant pressing forced Las Palmas to either play the ball long and aimlessly, or commit dangerous turnovers in possession.
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