The new Atlético stadium, Wanda Metropolitano, was premiered in a historic meeting against the Malaguista squad. The match, which is the 4th of LaLiga Santander, kicked off punctually (20:45) after the prematch homages. Málaga CF couldn’t score in the first game played at Wanda Metropolitano, despite having competed hard against Atleti. The home goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, deflected two good chances from the Malaguistas and that was important in getting the locals a good goal from Griezman.
The first half was marked by possession by the local side, even though they didn’t translate this into having any clear chances. The wingers slowed the offensive attacks and the midfield was the busiest area of the pitch in the early stages. Borja Bastón in minute 39 had the clearest of the chances in the first act of the match. Rolón set up the counter with a great pass to the feet of ‘Number 9’ to the back of the defense that allowed the striker to enter the area and shoot at Oblak’s goal, but the Slovenian managed to save it. The keeper then blocked Recio’s attempt in the second chance from middle of the area. As such, the result was 0-0 at half time.
After the break, Carrasco went on for Thomas and soon began to generate some danger. It was through him that came the first two chances of the second half, but they were repelled by the Malaguista wing. In minute 60, as Málaga seemed to have shaken off the first half turmoil, Atleti got a head with a good goal by Griezmann, after being set up by Correa.
Málaga tried to respond after barely two minutes, but the shot by Recio was just about diverted. It was then that Míchel began to move the bench around to try and change the flow of the game and brought on Juanpi for Chory and just after that Keko came on for the debutant, Rolón.
In the last 25 minutes of the match, Málaga CF ratcheted up the pressure and had two balls in play in the area, which created danger, but they weren’t converted into the prize of a goal. With the Blue and Whites looking for a goal to draw, Míchel gave Rolan his debut as he went on for Mula. The Uruguayan had at his fingertips the best of Málaga’s chances in the second half with a powerful shot from the edge of the area that Oblak managed to clear with a troubled corner.
Although Málaga pulled out all the stops in the last stages of the match, the result didn’t change and Atlético took the three points from the match played at the new Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
