From the start, Cádiz had to sail against the tide when João Félix scored in the third minute of the match. The Portuguese player took advantage of a bad pass from Conan Ledesma to Luis Hernández to beat the Argentinian goalkeeper and put Atleti ahead on the video scoreboard. This early goal did not take the Cadista team out of the game, quite the contrary, as the Yellows grew in stature as the minutes went by.
On the quarter of an hour mark, Pacha Espino hit a great shot from the edge of the box that went just wide of the top corner. Although the 'Blanquirrojos' responded with isolated moves, the Cadistas were gaining control of the game and had the odd dangerous chance, such as a shot from Negredo inside the box that went just wide of the post.
The good play of the Yellows was to find its reward in the last moment of the first half. A great right-footed cross from Pacha Espino from the left flank was perfectly headed home by Álvaro Negredo. The ball went into the box and the score was level.
Cholo Simeone's team began to look a little more determined, although the yellows continued to do a great job on the Wanda pitch. It was the home side who scored again in the 68th minute. Rodrigo de Paul made the most of a rejected ball in the heart of the box to head home and put the Madrid side ahead again.
With the score at 2-1, Atleti were forced by Cadiz to take a step back in the pitch, and Cadiz had several chances to score. A shot from Luis Hernández that Giménez saved under the posts, a shot from the edge of the area by Rubén Alcaraz and a shot from Idrissi that hit the side netting were some of the chances for the Yellows.
In the end, the match ended in victory for Atleti, but Cádiz CF left the pitch with a good feeling, having fought until the end and with a good image against the reigning LaLiga Santander champions.
