The tie was tied for Barcelona in just 24 minutes of play at the Metropolitano, Atlético de Madrid reacted with the strength of Marcos Llorente and Lookman’s 1-2, always resilient, before and after, to stay alive in the Champions League, with all the merit, after enduring Lamine Yamal’s offensive and qualifying for the semi-finals nine years later.
The red and white team resisted with extreme wear and tear, entrusted at times – especially in the first half – to Musso’s stops against Barcelona’s total attack, which went from more to less. It went from an intense first half, with quick goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, to a slower second half, with a 1-3 annulled for offside against Ferran himself and with the expulsion of Eric García ten minutes from the end. Atlético is in the semifinals.
Arsenal or Sporting de Portugal will be his next challenge. Diego Simeone and his team are determined to surpass the club’s history and win the European Cup, a tournament that has caused so much damage, but that also arouses great attraction between the team and its fans. Qualification was not certain until the end, until the referee’s whistle, with eight minutes of added time and a high header from Araujo in the final moments.
Big game, intense atmosphere, extreme situation. And the tie was tied in 24 minutes. “We can make it happen,” encouraged Hansi Flick the day before. From 0-2 in the first leg at the Camp Nou to 0-2 in the second leg at the Metropolitano in a few moments, marked by Atlético’s errors, pressured and vulnerable, with Lenglet pointed out.
In duels of such caliber, due to the intensity with which they develop and the forcefulness of each action, each mistake becomes an invitation for the rival. The French centre-back, starter due to the circumstances – the injuries to Hancko and Giménez and Pubill’s suspension – lacked conviction. His quality implies a risk, and Lamine Yamal was attentive to intervene in the transfer.
Recovery activated everything. Ferran’s pass disorganized Atlético’s defense and Lamine Yamal’s definition, under Musso’s legs, encouraged the comeback for which they had clamored so much the day before. The Spanish international winger sought to make the difference from the first second of the duel.
His determination overwhelmed Atlético. In a footballer with such enormous excess, ambition enhances his talent even more. Every time he faced, he left naturally with his head raised, like an outlier. A player for the elite. A constant enigma for the red and white team. Nothing was enough to stop him.
He had already warned at 34 seconds, frustrated by Musso, with a right hand at ground level that prevented the goal. He couldn’t do it later. It was just the 4th minute. The game was boiling, the tie in the air and the roar of the Metropolitano transformed into tension. Simeone asked for calm with his arms from the sideline. Her team needed her.
Musso was the support at that time. Simeone chose him for such a demanding match. Oblak was available on the bench: the Argentine offers better play with his feet, but the Slovenian stands out with his hands. It was a weighty decision at Atlético. He also later prevented another goal from Dani Olmo. Ferran Torres beat him later, with his left foot, out of his reach.
He minute 24. 0-2. 2-2 in the tie. Musso avoided 2-3 again. His left hand deflected a ball that he should have controlled earlier at the start, prior to Fermín López’s diving header.who was left on the ground after a accidental impact with the goalkeeper’s boot. And again, a cross from Lamine Yamal, executed with the outside, combined finesse and power; Its effect makes it even more dangerous, almost half a goal.
Knocked out, Atlético reacted with Molina’s ball delivery, Griezmann’s vision, the power of Llorente’s run and Lookman’s shot. From one field to another. Vertigo and precision. Everything combined led to the 1-2 at half an hour. Nobody takes better advantage of Barcelona’s advanced defense than the red and white team. He did it again. He regained the pulse of the match, which reached half-time with uncertainty for both. Emotion.
The advantage, recovered by the minimum, still belonged to Atlético, who needed Julián Álvarez, who disappeared until he started in the open field. He gave the ball back to Lookman. Out. Agitation. The comeback, still incomplete, required Barcelona. Hansi Flick ran to replace the ball in play from his technical area. Time was also against them.
Another save from Musso, again against Ferran Torres, again with Lamine Yamal as the protagonist. And Barcelona’s goal, initially awarded, was later annulled when the VAR detected the illegal position of Ferran, the last finisher after a volley by Gavi and the key intervention, yes, by Lenglet, a few meters from Musso’s goal. It wasn’t worth it. It was still 1-2.
Simeone brought on Baena and Nico; Flick opted for Lewandowski and Rashford as first resources. Llorente crossed his right too much. Ruggeri suffered an elbow in a jump and was left bloodied on the ground after a collision with Gavi – the Italian full-back returned to action with a bandage on his head. Le Normand made it 2-2, but Joan García prevented it with a decisive intervention in the 74th minute and also in the final stretch, even with Atlético in the lead.
Sorloth entered and escaped towards the goal after another great pass from Llorente, when he was pushed from behind by Eric García. The VAR reviewed the play; Turpin went to the monitor, watched her and showed the red card. It was the 78th minute. Just two minutes before the Norwegian had entered. Qualification for the semi-finals belongs to Atlético.