The situation
Atlético looked for the liver as soon as they came out of the tunnel. A brave Atleti who was once again the one with the anthem, all courage and heart. Cholo’s soccer players moving as a block like soldiers to an order: win, press, search and don’t give up. A plan for which Simeone came out without tips. A plan that left out Carrasco, Morata and Witsel sitting with João and entrusted himself to the tentacles of Kondogbia and Lemar’s class, to Koke and Saúl, to the heart of Correa up front with Griezmann. The blackboard was all well tattooed on their boots: to run and bite as the only way to the second round of this Champions League. Face that Bruges that Simeone and his footballers knew: he does not lower his chin on any stage. He was not intimidated by that Metropolitan by day but dressed in Calderón and illusion at night. Aphonic. Tall. Pushing the rojiblancos with ambition. The first two warnings in the game were Belgian, both before the clock reached ten: a left-footed shot by Sowah and a shot by Jutglà. Both are extremely dangerous. Both whistled like bullets over Oblak’s head. Atleti would not be daunted. On the contrary, he would take it as a provocation and press down on the pressure. Chances began to fall on Mignolet’s goal like the Perseids in the August skies. In the first, Lemar steals, Griezmann shoots and the goalkeeper repels his cross shot with his foot. In the second, Griezmann looks for himself and finds a Correa always capable of finding corridors between rivals, a wall with Koke and a cross shot that goes wide, a finger. In the third Saúl scored but the assistant raised the flag: offside . Atleti had pressed the off button on Brujas by preventing the ball from reaching their ends. A brave Atleti, dominator, owner and lord, pressing very high, looking for unchecks.
The details
Koke filtered balls with a square and bevel, Lemar offered himself, Kondogbia was balanced, Correa pure emotion. And Mignolet became Doctor Gadget from stretching out his arms so much to repel Grizi’s shots.A first part that ended in fire. A corner in favor of Atleti turned into a penalty against . Nahuel tripping Buchanan. Referee’s whistle. Finger pointing to the point. The field protests, very high. VAR call. Screen and the image stopped in the action just prior to Nahuel’s: stomping on the Bruges footballer. Penalty annulled. 60,810 exhale several demons at the same time .