Barça wastes its masterpiece against Atlético

Barça were much better for 75 minutes, Atlético were for 15, the first five and the last ten. Enough for the Colchoneros to neutralise an impressive game by Hansi Flick's men, tender at the beginning and brainless at the end. Just like in the League, Simeone's team ended up taking much more spoils than they deserved but capitalised on the youth sins of a team, the Blaugrana, as enthusiastic and capable as they are vulnerable. It's a shame that the work of art led by Pedri didn't at least get the reward of victory to face the return leg at the Metropolitano. Barça will have to go there to win the final after coming back from 0-2, going 4-2 and seeing their rival equalise 4-4. The game, however, was amazing.

There was never a truce. Because the league title between the two teams was uncorked just as it had been. That is, with Atlético leaving Barça knocked out and on the ground. Before the first minute was up, the red-and-white team was already leading 0-1 and had scored the second goal after five minutes. Seeing it is believing it. Julián Álvarez, coming out of a corner, and Griezmann after cutting in past Balde had made a mess of the defence of a cold, unfamiliar and disoriented Barça. In the blink of an eye, not only the match but the tie was at risk of becoming a nightmare for the young Blaugrana team.

Atlético were already winning 0-2 after five minutes with goals from Julián Álvarez and Griezmann

In that situation, between the rival, the score and the wind and the cold of Montjuïc, it was worth asking what Hansi Flick's team was made of, as they demanded intensity and determination. Would his players collapse or would they react to a horrendous start? The latter happened. And that was despite Ferran Torres, who was a starter in place of Lewandowski, wasting a one-on-one with Musso by rushing to finish. The team did not care about missing their first chance.

At least he had already given signs of life, he had stopped being a sleepwalker, a temporary state in which he remained after being hit so quickly and twice.

With Pedri as the leader, Lamine Yamal's run, which made Galán go through hell, and De Jong's more committed performance than ever, Barcelona cornered an Atlético that already has a taste for retreating. They had to attack with judgment, press hard, not lose balls that would generate counterattacks, and find a gap in a sea of ​​legs.

Flick's team reacted with fury and dealt four blows with goals from Pedri, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez and Lewandowski

The latter, finding the treasure map, is Lamine Yamal's speciality, who set up Koundé with a subtle touch. The Frenchman, who had lost the ball at 0-2, redeemed himself by raising his head and connecting in the heart of the area with Pedri. The Canary Islander scored first to seal a combination as perfect as it was beautiful. The Olímpic, normally silent, came to life and turned into a crowd of fans who went crazy 99 seconds later when the score was 2-2. Raphinha took a corner and Cubarsí emerged at the far post to head into the net his first goal as a Barcelona player. He celebrated by kissing the crest while Flick celebrated with the public.

The first half had barely reached its halfway point and the spectacle was supine. The Blaugrana machine would not stop there. Barcelona continued to strike with passion and with plenty of legs. Only Olmo, who started instead of Gavi or Fermín, seemed outdone by the speed of his teammates' manoeuvres. Barça was so close to their opponents that Llorente thoughtlessly passed the ball back towards his goal. Ferran caught it, who beat Musso but could not score into an empty net due to his poor finish. Giménez aborted his shot. But where the forwards were not marking, the defenders did. Iñigo Martínez took over from Cubarsí, who blocked another corner kick from Marcos Llorente so that the Basque centre-back could put Barça ahead before the break.

What a first act. What a Barcelona reaction. Pure fun. It was then necessary to see if Flick's team, with a lot of arsenal on the bench, could maintain the rhythm and gain more advantage for the return of the Metropolitano.

He did it even though Atlético woke up with Simeone's changes and Szczesny had to make a saving save after Griezmann's shot. Cholo brought on Reinildo, Lino, Sorloth and Correa and increased his team's energy but Pedri responded by being everywhere and Cubarsí and Iñigo multiplied. However, Barça found it difficult to generate so much danger and Flick decided that it was time to boost his team with Gavi and Lewandowski's instinct. The Pole only appeared to kiss the saint by pushing over the line an artistic pass from Lamine Yamal, who had left Lino sitting down.

The night was heating up again and Montjuïc was chanting “olés” at the rondo that their team was drawing. Barça then wanted to protect themselves with the ball and be surgical in case they could leave the tie very much in their favour. But Atlético had not had their last word. Correa, alert, saw Marcos Llorente alone to reduce the gap. The third gave wings to Atlético and disoriented Barça. Koundé slipped and Sorloth in added time ended up making it 4-4. The return match, on 2 April at the Metropolitano. But Barça missed the opportunity to put one foot in the final.