Match with morbidity. Simeone suffered a unique executioner and Atlético de Madrid sank with a rout against Barcelona

From a great victory and a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, to a defeat that leaves them out of the best four in the league standings. Spanish League. Atlético de Madrid went back to days of extreme turmoil at the Metropolitan stadium: he showed his historic badge as a world giant and reversed the predictions with pride and courage against Inter, from Milan, in the top European club tournament, but four days later on the same stage as led to the agonizing comeback and victory in the penalty shootout, They failed to capitalize on their energy and fell 3 to 0 against Barcelona.

Was a particular day for coach Diego Simeone, who had his personal executioner in the figure of the Portuguese Joao Félix: he Cholo He was unable to join the attacker into his formations and the footballer, who opened the scoring, had an unhappy stay at the Madrid club. with whom he still has a connection contractual.

Diego Simeone gestures, who formulated a lineup with several modifications against Barcelona but could not sustain the momentum of the victory over Inter, for the Champions LeagueBernat Armangue – AP

“I expect our team to be able to follow the same line as the match with Inter,” said Simeone, diverting the focus of the question, when asked about What did I expect from Joao Félix?. The wear and tear and tension of the Champions League match led the coach to try out a rotation of names and prominent names were waiting on the substitutes’ bench, such as the Frenchman Antoine Griezmann, Memphis Depay – scorer of the goal that led to extra time. with Inter-, Ángel Correa…

In front, Xavi, Barcelona coach, supported the footballer who returned to the Metropolitan stadium for the second chance: “He is intelligent, he showed it in his first lap. He can compete perfectly in what has been his home“said the person who was expelled in the first half for protesting rulings. The morbidity was focused on the presence of the Portuguese, the most expensive purchase in the history of Atlético de Madrid: 126 million euros.

Barcelona’s victory at the Metropolitan stadium

The public played their game and everything related to Joao Félix was a source of disapproval with boos, but also vandalism on some of his posters and even the burning of a shirt with his name on it near the field. And while from outside the field Simeone supported the intensity with which Atlético Madrid took the rival ahead in the first half, it was the talented attacker who with a thrust – just like in Montjuic – changed the result and deepened the discontent of the fans towards him.

In a change of roles, the Polish Robert Lewandowski assisted and from the front, with his right foot, Joao Félix left goalkeeper Jan Oblak with no chance. A celebration measured to discharge that dark energy with which the rival tried to surround him and a smile to reflect that the virtues that made him distinguished remain intact.

Rodrigo De Paul leaves Fermín, scorer of Barcelona’s third goal, on the floor; The Argentine midfielder of the national team missed a pass and caused the play for Barcelona’s second goalBernat Armangue – AP

With the quarterfinals of the Champions League in sight, where Atlético de Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain, the League is not a minor objective and the colchoneros with the defeat are out of the qualifying places for the next season of the maximum club tournament in the Old continent. One point separates them from Athletic Bilbao -56 to 55-, while the Catalans jumped to the second position of Real Madrid, which maintains a gap of eight points: 72 to 64. Barcelona’s victory is not just one more, because No one before in the Spanish season managed to win a victory at the Metropolitano stadium, and the culés did it with a flag that is a nuisance for the team. tool.

Together: Barcelona players celebrate the victory at the Metropolitan stadium; The Catalans, the first to win at the home of Atlético de Madrid in the Spanish seasonBernat Armangue – AP

With the result against, despite having had several favorable situations to score, the changes that Simeone tried to reverse the development collapsed as soon as the second half began, after a failed pass from Rodrigo De Paul, the cunning of Rapinha and the aim of Lewandowski, who increased the lead with a cross shot. It was a blow from which Atlético de Madrid did not recover: the Montenegrin Stefan Savic hit Joao Félix and De Paul hit Sergi Roberto… earning both the yellow card. And while one team despaired of the ticking clock, the impotence to score and return to the game, the other – Barcelona – looked with the youth of a team that refreshes the team and makes it possible to recover the enthusiasm. Pau Cubarsiat 17 years old, was called up for the Spain matches against Colombia and Brazil; Héctor Fort he is the same age; Ferminwho closed the win -after another assist from Lewandowski-, barely added 20… The Brazilian jumped off the bench Victor Roque (19), Marc Casadó (20) y Lamine Yamal (16!)… Joao Félix seems like a veteran among so many kids, although the document indicates that last November he blew out 24 candles.

There was only room for frustration at Atlético de Madrid and red card to Nahuel Molina, after knocking down Vitor Roque, who was attacking Oblak’s goal head on. The morbid match was already history, Joao Félix took the shine out of the eyes of the club that loaned him out and once again stuck the dagger into a wound that does not heal in Simeone.

THE NATION

Themes

Atlético de MadridFC BarcelonaDiego SimeoneJoão FélixRobert Lewandowski

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