The Champions is cruel to Barça

Special correspondent to MadridAn expulsion for Eric García in the 79th minute brought back the same ghosts that had haunted Barça in the first leg when Pau Cubarsí suffered the same cruel outcome. Once again, a VAR review punished the azulgranas, who were penalized with one less player and saw the dream of a comeback, which they had earned through sheer effort after a great first half, vanish. The goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres excited all of Barcelonism, guided by the faith of a Gavi who, like all of Barça, gave his all at the Metropolitano. But it wasn't enough, because all the details of the tie against Atlético de Madrid have ended up punishing the faith of a Catalan side that falls with its head held high (1-2). Lamine Yamal and Ferran started the journey, making people believe that a comeback, which would ultimately prove impossible, could be achieved, until Lookman's goal (1-2) and Eric's expulsion changed the narrative of the night.

The self-esteem of a battling Barça, even with ten men, began to wane at the Metropolitano after a great first half and a second half full of obstacles. The start of the match had been hopeful. Not even five minutes had passed when Lamine opened the scoring after a gift from Lenglet. Twenty minutes later, Ferran scored the second and equalized the contest. Two good goals. Two goals full of hope and pride from a team full of youngsters who, sooner rather than later, will lift a competition that has eluded them for over a decade.

At the half-hour mark, after Ferran's goal, the fans were singing and dancing, making their bravery felt at the Metropolitano, waving azulgrana and señeras flags, while Fermín was being attended to, having taken a nasty knock to the head after a challenge from the goalkeeper. What the almost 3,000 fans present in the colchonero stadium didn't know was that they would have to endure a slap in the face and live through a night that would end with a sad and painful finale. Griezmann, the best of his team along with Musso, once again applied the same medicine to Barça: a long pass from the Frenchman for Llorente's run, who, with a good assist, found Lookman. Faster than Koundé, who should have lunged to clear the ball, the British winger finished at will against a Joan who could do little.

Lookman scores the 1-2

A mismatch by Barcelona in their pressing allowed the Colchoneros to push and get fully into the tie. With the goal, it seemed Simeone's side were shedding their fear, but the Blaugrana, far superior to their opponent, would dominate them again with good football. Olmo would claim a penalty for a shove inside the box, but Turpin considered the contact insufficient to signal a penalty kick and Brisard, on VAR, did not bother at all to invite him to review the play. This got on Flick's nerves, who was already angry since Musso's action involving Fermín and also with the permissiveness once again towards the Colchoneros. Simeone's team should have finished the first half with a yellow card, especially Ruggeri or Llorente, for a kick at Ferran.

The first half would die at the feet of the Valencian attacker, who shortly before had once again run into an excellent save from Musso after a good backheel from the edge of the area. In the last action of the first half, Ferran wanted to take the free kick he had earned himself, but he shot high and wide. The Blaugranas, who had been much superior, went in with the confidence of having scored two goals, but with the bitterness in their throats of having conceded Lookman's 1-2. The break was reached with half the job done, with the match left open and a tie that could go one way or the other.

At the restart, Barça confused the desire to come out biting with a directness that arrived too soon and allowed Simeone's men to weave a couple of counter-attacks that could have been costly. They were a few minutes of suffering, of biting their nails, because the Blaugranas tried, but in a hurried manner and losing risky balls. This anguish, which is often the price to pay for a team that has all the virtues of youth but also some of its sins, could have been stopped suddenly with Barça's third goal, which came from a Ferran shot after a tangled play, but the action would end up being disallowed for offside after VAR review.

Eric Garcia, sent off

It was necessary to keep trying. Lamine Yamal was the beacon of all attacking plays. He gauged intelligently when it was a good moment to step into the box and beat opponents or when it was better to play back and look for a teammate. The azulgrana star, however, was starting to miss more attacking partners. Not everything could go through his feet alone. Although Ferran was having a very good game, he was starting to show signs of fatigue and Flick sought a change of pace with a double substitution: Rashford and Lewandowski came on for the Valencian player and for Fermín. More moments of suffering were to come, with Koke meeting a great save from Joan and Le Normad sending a shot wide immediately after.

It was the prelude to a nightmare, because Barça's worst moments were just beginning. Sorloth, who had just entered the field, outmuscled Eric with his giant frame and the center-back, seeing himself beaten, lightly grabbed the Norwegian by the shirt. After the VAR review, Turpin changed the yellow card he had initially intended to show Eric for a red card that froze the heart of all Barcelona fans. Coming back from behind already seemed impossible, but the azulgranas, again with ten players, put their heart into it. Araujo, with a header that went wide, extinguished the last spark of faith in a tie decided by fine margins and cruel for Barça.