The pre-match headlines were yet again dominated by the bizarre Antoine Griezmann saga, seeing him resigned to the bench yet again in order to preserve minutes and therefore cash to the tune of €40m. It was his striking counterpart Morata who set out to earn the accolades with an early goal for Atléti. Yannick Carrasco’s fifth minute corner had goalkeeper Álex Remiro scrambling, before it cannoned off the near post and fell kindly to Morata who swept home.
In contrasting attacking fortunes, the Sociedad hierarchy may have been ruing the £64m sale of talisman Alexander Isak. This was laid bare twice in a couple of minutes, following good work on both occasions down the left from Mohamed-Ali Cho. First, David Silva fired left-footed into Jan Oblak’s grateful arms, followed by Mikel Merino cracking the woodwork with an almost identical chance. Morata thought he had put his side two up before HT, profiting fortunately from a blocked João Félix shot. However, after a prolonged period of deliberation from VAR and referee César Soto Grado, a freekick was awarded as Félix handled in the build up.
Summer signing Cho had been causing problems down the left throughout the entire first half. If at first, you do not succeed, try, try, again. This time his inviting cross was nodded home by Isak’s intended replacement in Nigerian Sadiq. Having already scored twice for Almeria in La Liga, he made himself a cult hero at The Reale Arena, instantly repaying a fraction of his transfer fee. Like clockwork, Griezmann was introduced in the 63rd minute but was unable to inspire a late winner, with the best chance falling to José Giménez whose header was well saved.
In the end, Atléti were perhaps fortunate to hold onto a draw as Sadiq was flagged offside late on after chipping Oblak, but the result sees them now unbeaten in their last 58 La Liga encounters when leading at HT.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mohamed-Ali Cho (Real Sociedad)
