Colchonero supporters could well have scripted how this unfolded for Atleti. It was a familiar tale: despite largely surrendering the initiative to Real Sociedad, the red-and-white outfit are seasoned masters in this kind of scenario. The hosts from San Sebastián threw everything forward to pin their visitors back, only to collide with the brick wall of Oblak and the decisive impact of substitutions that secured an invaluable victory for their ambitions.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the contest was turned on its head. To anyone watching, it was staggering: locked at 0-0 in the 83rd minute, the scoreline surged to 0-3 by the 95th. It was the classic 'Cholo' blueprint executed to perfection: pragmatic discipline, lethal punishment at the first hint of an opposition slip-up, and job done. Alejandro Grimaldo converted a heavily disputed penalty — awarded for handball against Ochieng after the ball struck his own thigh — to break the deadlock. Shortly after, Jonathan David came off the bench to double the cushion with a fine individual effort. Deep into stoppage time, Giuliano raced away like an arrow on a devastating counter-attack to seal the result and empty the stands — a thoroughly deceptive scoreline given how events played out on the pitch.

Real Sociedad: they were comfortably superior to their opponents, but in football the golden rule remains taking your chances. The hosts failed to breach the rearguard and were further undone by a spot-kick awarded when the ball rebounded off the body before brushing against Ochieng's arm — an absolute injustice.

Atletico de Madrid: they desperately needed all three points to dust themselves off after two bitter stumbles, and the mission was accomplished, even if question marks linger over their performance. The 0-3 outcome is entirely misleading for an encounter that was hurtling towards a goalless stalemate. Nevertheless, everyone knows the grit of 'Cholo''s side in these testing battles. It took just 11 minutes to resolve the contest and keep them firmly in pursuit of the league leaders.

Jonathan David

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