Diego Simeone gives instructions during the Spanish Copa del Rey football match CF Reus Deportiu vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Estadi Municipal de Reus in Reus on December 1, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
Lucas Hernandez’s defensive error allowed Fran to fire the Catalans into a shock lead on the half hour mark.
However, 10-time winners Atletico responded immediately through Luciano Vietto’s headed equaliser before Saul Niguez flicked home the winner 27 minutes from time.
The two sides meet again in the second leg on December 17.
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“The tie is still tight and it isn’t a comfortable result,” said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. “I value the ability to come back from 1-0 down. Once we start making better decisions in the box it will lift the level of the team a lot.”
Simeone made seven changes to the side that beat Espanyol on Saturday to remain second in La Liga.
And that lack of continuity showed early on against a Reus side that had only been beaten once previously this season on their way to leading their regional division in the third tier.
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Vietto should have opened the scoring when he fired straight at Edgar Badia with a clear sight of goal after seven minutes.
However, the opener arrived at the other end as Hernandez slipped under pressure from Fran and the playmaker confidently slotted past Miguel Angel Moya.
Vietto made amends for his earlier miss with a fine header into the bottom corner to level six minutes later.
Atletico had far more control after the break, but needed a set-piece to break Reus down as Saul’s clever flicked header from Koke’s corner looped into the far corner.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2015.
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