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October 1, 2024

Ángel Correa Secures a Derby Draw for Atlético de Madrid, Continuing Simeone’s Team’s Trend of Late Goals – La Liga

Credit to La Liga Image Gallery

After eight rounds of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season, the title race is proving to be an exciting and unpredictable contest. Despite recently facing their first defeat, FC Barcelona remains on top of the league standings with 21 points, showcasing their strength over the opening weeks. However, their position at the summit is far from secure, as Real Madrid are hot on their heels in second place with 18 points. Atlético de Madrid are not far behind either, sitting in third with 16 points. With the leading trio separated by just five points, each game is becoming increasingly critical, and the competition for the title is heating up.

In a dramatic turn of events over the past four days, Atlético de Madrid have demonstrated their resilience by securing crucial points through last-minute goals. The first of these pivotal moments came on Thursday when Julián Álvarez delivered a vital 90th-minute strike against RC Celta, handing Atleti a hard-fought 1-0 victory away from home. Just days later, during Sunday’s high-stakes Madrid Derby, Atlético once again proved their knack for late drama. This time, it was Ángel Correa who rose to the occasion, scoring in the 95th minute to snatch a 1-1 draw against their city rivals Real Madrid. These late goals not only emphasize Atlético’s determination but also highlight the importance of every minute in a tightly contested league season.

Correa’s ability to deliver in clutch moments is not a new revelation. Earlier in the season, he pulled off another late-game winner in Matchday 4, scoring in the 92nd minute to secure a 1-0 victory for Atlético de Madrid against Athletic Club. Correa has established himself as a reliable impact player, often making a difference when coming off the bench. Of his 82 career goals for Atlético, 26 have come as a substitute, showcasing his effectiveness in such situations. Comparatively, he has scored 56 goals when starting. Analyzing his statistics further, Correa nets a goal every 213 minutes as a substitute, which is more efficient than his rate of one goal every 287 minutes as a starter. This highlights his value as a game-changer, particularly in tight encounters.

In Sunday’s derby, Correa was introduced in the 70th minute as one of Simeone’s final tactical moves. With Real Madrid leading 1-0 after Éder Militão’s goal from a free-kick, Atlético kept pushing. Correa capitalized on a perfectly placed pass from Javi Galán and skillfully beat Thibaut Courtois to level the match in the dying seconds.

Correa’s goal not only ensured the Madrid Derby ended in a 1-1 draw, keeping both capital city teams unbeaten this season, but it also significantly impacted the title race. FC Barcelona had been cruising with seven consecutive wins, but their 4-2 loss to CA Osasuna on Saturday has thrown the race wide open. Although Barça remain in first place, their lead has been reduced to just three points over Real Madrid and five over Atlético de Madrid, following the weekend’s draw.

Despite currently sitting third, Atlético de Madrid have made it clear they are serious contenders for this year’s title and won’t back down until the final whistle. Diego Simeone has instilled a mentality of fighting until the very end, evidenced by the fact that five of their points have come from goals scored after the 89th minute.

Moreover, Atlético have been dominant in the closing stages of games. In the 2024/25 LALIGA EA SPORTS season, they have scored five goals and conceded none in the last 15 minutes of matches—an impressive record unmatched by any other team, as no club has a final 15-minute goal difference greater than plus two.

It will be captivating to see how far Atlético can go in this year’s title race, but one thing is certain: Simeone’s squad will never stop fighting.

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