Barça knows how to shine and suffer at the Metropolitano to dream of the treble.

MadridHansi Flick's Barça are looking to conquer the world. They swept Real Madrid in the Super Cup final. They've dispatched Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. They're in first place in La Liga. In the Champions League, every team fears them. No opponent or coach can handle them, not even Cholo Simeone. A packed Estadio Metropolitano wasn't enough to defeat a Barça that shone during the first 45 minutes and suffered for the next 45. A first-half goal from Ferran Torres clinched the Blaugrana for the Copa del Rey final in Seville against Real Madrid.

It was a two-sided game. The Blaugrana were brilliant in the first half, followed by a second half of grinding, fighting, suffering, nail-biting, and converting Ferran's precious goal. The Valencian scored from a pass from Lamine Yamal, the man who shone the brightest when the Blaugrana dominated. Barça has a treasure in La Masia. It's where Leo Messi came from, having made Barcelona fans happy for over a decade and having driven Simeone's Atlético de Madrid to their knees so many times. The Atlético Madrid manager continues to spur his team on from the bench game after game, while Messi is no longer with us. If before the Argentine coach had to suffer the displays of his compatriot, now he must suffer those of a certain Lamine Yamal. Because his first-half performance at the Metropolitano was just that: a display.

Lamine Yamal likes to tell his teammates and family that he wants to play in these games, the big games. And not only does he boast like a grown-up teenager, because he's still only 17 years old, but he actually follows through on his promises. In the first 30 minutes of play, he single-handedly shut down an entire Atlético de Madrid side that confused toughness with intensity: three yellow cards and a red card were forgiven in less than 15 minutes.

Few jobs exist in the world of football right now more complicated than being the defender tasked with marking Lamine Yamal. He's a real-life winger who plays like he's in a video game. In a great collective performance by the Blaugrana, the number 19 shone brightly. He was in charge of leading the transitions and governing the attack for a Barça side that knew when to develop the play from possession and when to accelerate to add spice.

Blessed be Hansi Flick, who has given this team a certain record, always attacking, that allows each player to bring out their best on the pitch. Like Ferran, who started instead of Lewandowski. The Valencian responded to the confidence his coach placed in him by scoring a goal worth its weight in gold, taking advantage of a brilliant assist from Lamine Yamal. It was a vertical and sharp play. Pure rock'n'roll.

Thus, the scoreboard confirmed the overwhelming dominance of the Blaugranas, whose only fault was in failing to finish off Atlético when they were most threatened in the first half. Accustomed to surviving, the Colchoneros managed to weaken Barça's forcefulness, who could have exploited a shot from Raphinha's corner.

Barça took control of the game against an Atlético that ended the first half asking for a non-existent handball from Pedri. Hugging the referee, a habit of Simeone's teams, the one who would end up seeing the card was Julián Álvarez, who grabbed Lamine Yamal by the shirt, who drove everyone crazy with his football. Some were protesting, others were playing. The home side took to the field to slander every action that occurred in the closing stages of the first half, with the crowd booing Munuera Montero, who had forgiven them for Azpilicueta's expulsion. Memories can be short in football.

Barça can hold on when it comes to suffering.

Pushed by the circumstances, Simeone made his move and managed to change the face of the match: with the introduction of Sorloth, he shook off his fearful approach and switched to playing with two forwards. The gamble paid off because the Colchoneros managed to pressure the Blaugranas. Pedri rarely touched the ball, and that's a sign that Barça is losing control. It was time to fight back and hold on. They also needed to strengthen their game: Flick brought on Eric and Araujo, Fermín was relevant, and Cubarsí was less reliable than usual. A loss of the ball by Estanyol's center-back ended with De Paul leaving Sorloth alone against Szczesny. Fortunately for the Blaugranas, the Norwegian giant shot wide when he had everything in his favor.

Sorloth did find the net later, but he was offside. Atlético didn't let up, and Barça defended, waiting for any opportunity to counterattack. Lamine Yamal had a chance, but his shot went wrong. The hosts would respond again, but Kounde, Iñigo Martínez, and Araujo held strong at the back until the end, keeping the faith of a Barça team dreaming of a treble.