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Atletico Madrid logo
La Liga
Jan 20, 2013 at 6pm UK
 
Levante logo

2-0

Koke (60'), Adrián (32')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Match Analysis: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Levante

Sports Mole analyses the La Liga clash in which Atletico Madrid beat Levante 2-0.

Atletico Madrid saw off Levante in a somewhat comfortable game in La Liga, with goals from Adrian and Koke.

Adrian bundled in at the far post following a cross from Javier Manquillo, before Koke wrapped up the points in the second-half with a stunner.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action.

Match statistics:

Atletico Madrid:
Shots 13
On target 4
Possession 55%
Corners 9
Fouls 17

Levante:
Shots 10
On target 2
Possession 45%
Corners 6
Fouls 14

Was the result fair?

Absolutely. Although Levante were set up well to be hard to beat, Atletico didn't have to get out of first gear to claim the win. There was little threat from the away side and the hosts picked them off at their own pace. It was a routine win.

Atletico's performance

Good. Not great, but then they never needed to be. There was the sense in their play that if they were ever troubled they could step it up another couple of notches. This wasn't required so as such they were comfortable on the ball in defence and midfield and did enough up front to get the win.

Levante's performance

A little disappointing. Levante are always well-drilled and hard to beat, but in order to take points you must attack too, and there was never an urgency to do this. Obafemi Martins cut a frustrated figure chasing lost causes and Thibaut Courtois was rarely tested.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Javier Manquillo: This was the young right-back's first league start for Atletico, replacing the injured Juanfran and he was exceptional. Not only was he strong at the back but he was breaking forward all game long, even when it was comfortably won. His run down the right for the first goal set up the opener and put his team on the way to victory.

Biggest gaffe

In a game where neither team did much wrong, this has to be awarded to the referee, Carlos Delgado Ferreiro. In the space of a minute the man in charge yellow-carded Michel incredibly harshly for taking a free kick too early before failing to notice Koke standing two yards away when it was eventually taken.

Referee performance

Carlos Delgado Ferreiro was too picky for my liking. As seen in the number of fouls given, the referee seemed to not want the game to flow. He stopped the game for fouls that could have had an advantage and produced too many yellows for first fouls.

What next?

Atletico: Tonight's hosts travel to Athletic Bilbao in a week's time in an attempt to keep the current four-match unbeaten streak alive.

Levante: The visitors will look to recover next Saturday when they host Real Valladolid, who are in mid-table.

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Athletico's Adrian Lopez is congratulated by Radamel Falcao after a goal against Levante on January 20, 2013
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