Cádiz CF pushed Atlético Madrid all the way and were unlucky to emerge empty-handed from an immensely hard-fought encounter. The visitors showed exactly why they’re LaLiga leaders during several phases of Sunday’s clash at the Carranza, but in the end were relieved to come away with a win that was narrower than the scoreline suggests.
After an uneventful opening few minutes in which neither side was able to take control of the match, the first real goalscoring chance fell to Atlético’s Luis Suárez on the quarter-of-an-hour mark. Receiving Marcos Llorente’s cut-back after a fine surge down the right from the Spaniard, Suárez’s shot on the turn forced Conan Ledesma to get down low to save.
However, Cádiz were always ready with a response to every forward foray by Los Rojiblancos, the first of which came courtesy of Anthony ‘Choco’ Lozano, who showed tremendous agility to send a header just past Jan Oblak’s right-hand post.
Atlético then took the lead with just under half an hour played, as Suárez found the net with a fantastic free-kick, bending his effort right into the corner to give Ledesma no chance at all.
Cádiz didn’t let their heads drop after that blow, though, and it wasn’t long before they had hit back with a goal of their own: Álvaro Negredo, a man playing with the bit between his teeth, brought the hosts level when he finished off a patient attacking move with a powerful left-footed drive placed just inside the post.
Although the clock was ticking towards the break, there was still time for plenty to happen. First, Atlético went back ahead, benefiting from a slice of good fortune when Sául Ñíguez helped on Thomas Lemar’s cross with the inside of his right foot, and saw the ball loop past Ledesma and into the net.
And shortly afterwards, there was controversy when Cádiz were initially awarded a penalty after Koke was adjudged to have handled in the Atlético box, before referee Jesús Gil Manzano reversed the decision after watching the incident back on the pitchside monitor.
After half time, Atlético extended their advantage from a penalty given away by Marcos Mauro, Suárez proving as clinical as ever as he converted the spot-kick.
Cádiz had been left with a mountain to climb, but they dug in and showed a real never-say-die attitude to put Atleti on the back foot. First, Fali’s cross hit the crossbar, before Negredo got Álvaro Cervera’s men right back into the game, scoring his second of the afternoon with a scuffed effort that a scrambling Oblak was unable to prevent from creeping into the corner.
Cádiz then enjoyed their best spell of the match, pinning Los Colchoneros back as they swung balls into the visiting area – and substitute Ivan Saponjic, making his debut for the Submarino Amarillo after joining on loan from none other than Atlético, could have equalised with a firmly-planted header that Oblak did well to beat out.
Cádiz were refusing to give in, and Negredo also had a headed chance that Atlético’s keeper had to look alive to save. However, the home team’s hopes of snatching something from the game were ended when Atleti scored their fourth goal at the death, Koke turning in from close range to make sure of the points for Diego Simeone’s side.
