Colchonero Chat 113: Victory in Vitoria

Rob Walker (@rwalk03) is a staff writer at Into the Calderón and the guest on this edition of Colchonero Chat. He joins Into the Calderón site manager Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) to analyze Atlético Madrid’s second-ever win at Mendizorroza over Deportivo Alavés.

A Kévin Gameiro penalty decided a chippy game, and the podders discuss the Frenchman’s penchant for clutch goals this season in addition to Diego Simeone’s rotations, Vitolo’s strong shift, the Diego Costa-Fernando Torres pairing and finding time for the academy players who continue to sit on the bench. They also look at a decisive weekend in LaLiga, which saw Barcelona clinch the title and an end to the relegation race.

Jeremy and Rob also dive headlong into Thursday’s Europa League semifinal second leg against Arsenal. They discuss how Atlético can contain a fit Henrikh Mkhitaryan, why Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied and how Costa’s return may tip the scales in favor of the mattress makers.