Morata Makes Fun Of VAR After Getting Off The Mark In Atletico Win
24th February 2019
Villarreal found some momentum in the last 15 minutes as Mario Gaspar and Gerard Moreno both had shots blocked but Saul dashed any hopes of a comeback
- Alvaro Morata poked fun at VAR after scoring his first goal for Atletico Madrid on Sunday as Barcelona's closest challengers kept up the chase with a 2-0 win over Villarreal
- Since joining Atletico on loan from Chelsea last month, Morata has twice had goals ruled out by VAR so when this one finally stood at the Wanda Metropolitano, he celebrated by imitating a referee putting a finger to his ear
- Saul Niguez added a late second for Atletico, whose victory means they reduce the gap behind Barca to seven points at the top of La Liga. Real Madrid, now five behind their city rivals, play Levante later on Sunday
MADRID, Spain- Alvaro
Morata poked fun at VAR after scoring his first goal for Atletico Madrid on
Sunday as Barcelona's closest challengers kept up the chase with a 2-0 win over
Villarreal.
Since joining Atletico on loan from Chelsea last month,
Morata has twice had goals ruled out by VAR so when this one finally stood at
the Wanda Metropolitano, he celebrated by imitating a referee putting a finger
to his ear.
Saul Niguez added a late second for Atletico, whose victory
means they reduce the gap behind Barca to seven points at the top of La Liga.
Real Madrid, now five behind their city rivals, play Levante later on Sunday.
Morata's first league goal in almost four months was a
deserved reward for another lively performance, which followed up his excellent
display off the bench in the midweek win over Juventus.
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After having one headed goal ruled out, Morata teed up Jose
Gimenez's opener against Juve and his contribution was enough to earn him a
start ahead of Diego Costa, who replaced his fellow Spaniard in the second
half.
The pair's jostle for the position as partner-in-chief to
Antoine Griezmann looks set to give Diego Simeone a headache in the coming
weeks but Atleti's coach will be relieved that momentum has been sustained
after such a memorable night in the Champions League.
Atletico's deficit behind Barcelona may yet prove impossible
to make up but they still have to play the Catalans at the Camp Nou in April
and the challenge in the meantime will be at least to stay in touch.
Most of Atletico's victories this season have owed some debt
to their goalkeeper Jan Oblak and so it proved again as he prevented Karl Toko
Ekambi giving Villarreal an early lead, saving from close range with his legs.
Atletico controlled the game, with their opponents seemingly
determined to sit back and frustrate. Morata had a spring in his step and did
well to execute a difficult volley from Saul's cross, only for Sergio Asenjo to
push it wide.
His opener took a similar route, also down the left, as this
time Filipe Luis dug out the cross and after adjusting his feet, Morata caught
his shot perfectly off the bounce. The ball crept inside the post.
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Morata departed to a standing ovation just before the hour,
replaced by Costa, who could have made it two but took too long to finish after
a dash in behind.
Villarreal found some momentum in the last 15 minutes as
Mario Gaspar and Gerard Moreno both had shots blocked but Saul dashed any hopes
of a comeback.
It was Costa's ball over the top that did the damage as Saul
won the race with Asenjo, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and into the
net.