Lcam Rodrigo de Paul a while already assuming gallons of important type. The Argentine has burst in to stay in the center of the rojiblanco field. His match at Mestalla was again one more sample of his level. If he had already been one of the most prominent footballers against Betis, in the Valencian fiefdom, the team threw themselves on their backs and set the pace for those of Simeone.
During the first half, in an excessively flat match, marked by a very withdrawn Valencia, the Argentine was the rojiblanco player who tried the most to change the rhythm of the clash. Each control and driving of Rodrigo helps his team to overcome lines. But it was the defensive phase where his presence became essential. With eleven recoveries, he was the rojiblanco that recovered the most balls for his own. Koke, his partner in the center of the field, only recovered three balls.
With 1-3 on the scoreboard and a crash that seemed on track, Simeone decided to replace the Argentine who retired to an applause for his old hobby. Minutes before he had received a blow that could be the reason why he was chosen to leave the field of play. The fact is that since he left the field, Atlético was not able to hold the ball or stop the Valencian attacks. It had been precisely From Paul the rojiblanco footballer who had intercepted the last actions of Valencia seconds before leaving the pitch.
The end of the story is already known to everyone. A two-goal lead that vanished in injury time. The Athletic was shown in those more than ten minutes without From Paul like a mentally weak team. Something precisely in which the Argentine stands out, with plenty of personality. The rojiblancos were not able to maintain possession of the ball even when they had the possibility to do so after a foul on Griezmann in their own field. We will never know if the comeback would have occurred with the Argentine in the field., but what is clear is that his absence determined the end of the match. The irreplaceable poster has been won.
