Atletico Madrid Extends Winning Streak with 1-0 Victory Over Marbella

Atletico Madrid advanced to the Copa del Rey round of 16 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Marbella, courtesy of Antoine Griezmann's first-half goal.

Atletico Madrid extended their winning streak to 13 consecutive games across all competitions, defeating third-tier Marbella 1-0 in the Copa del Rey on Saturday. Captain Antoine Griezmann scored the decisive goal in the first half, securing Atletico's spot in the round of 16.

This victory marked a significant milestone for Atletico Madrid, equalling their best-ever run of consecutive wins. For coach Diego Simeone, it was his longest winning streak at the club since the 2012/13 season, a testament to the team's impressive form under his leadership.

Diego Simeone's 13-year tenure as Atletico Madrid's manager was celebrated in a special way, as the team returned to the Rosaleda stadium where he made his debut as their coach. However, Simeone was not present on the bench due to a red card he received in the previous round for complaining during Atletico's 2-1 win at Cacereno.

Atletico assistant coach Nelson Vivas shared his thoughts on the team's impressive winning streak, stating, “We are living this run of wins with calm, with humility, focusing at the moment more on the things we can do better in each of the matches.” Vivas also expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, saying, “We are satisfied and happy not only for the series of victories, but also for the qualification and to continue in the competition.”

The only goal of the game was scored by Antoine Griezmann in the 16th minute. The French captain tapped in a rebound from the Marbella goalkeeper, who had initially blocked Giuliano Simeone's close-range attempt. This goal proved to be the decisive factor in Atletico's 1-0 win over Marbella, securing their spot in the Copa del Rey round of 16.

Captain Antoine Griezmann expressed his satisfaction with Atletico Madrid's performance, saying, “We're doing well, the holiday was good for us, it's been a tough week of training, we have to improve things and keep dreaming.” This positive attitude reflects the team's current winning streak and their ambitions for the season.

Despite dominating the game, Atletico Madrid had to settle for a narrow 1-0 win over Marbella. Rodrigo De Paul thought he had scored a second goal for Atletico early in the second half, but it was disallowed for handball. Marbella also had a close call when Conor Gallagher's curling effort struck the post. The visitors' poor finishing and Marbella's improved defensive performance after the break prevented Atletico from securing a more convincing victory.

Atletico Madrid will look to continue their winning streak when they host Osasuna next Sunday. Currently sitting second in the LaLiga standings, just two points behind Real Madrid with a game in hand, Atletico are well-positioned to make a strong push for the title in the second half of the season.