The confinement LaLiga reaches its final stretch and Barcelona is increasingly farther from fighting for the title. The tie in Vigo has been followed by another against Atlético that can leave him four points behind Real Madrid if Zidane's men beat Getafe. It was not that Setien's team played poorly, but he measured a rival in a streak and physically better than he was worthy of the draw. Those of Simeone have not just secured the place of Champions but they cannot escape playing this way. An own goal and three penalties did not tarnish a vibrant game in which they played to win without speculation. The afternoon started badly for Barcelona with the defeat in the Endesa League final against Baskonia. It was an omen of a day to forget.
The game began to play already an hour before with the announcement of the line-ups. Surprises in both onces with Griezmann and Joao Félix substitutes. A declaration of intent of both coaches with the presence of Riqui Puig at Barça looking for more speed in the rhythm of the game and of Correa in Atlético facing a more physical starting team. The presence of the youth team culé caused a change to a 4-4-2 system with a diamond leaving friends Suárez and Messi at the forefront.
The menu chosen for the start of the duel was surprising since it went directly to the first plate, skipping the starters of the scoring minutes.Barcelona and Atlético are well known and the game was not for flourishes. Unlike other clashes between them in minute seven they could have already scored both. First, the visitors, with a free kick taken by Carrasco who did not find a finisher but grazed the post of the Ter Stegen goal and, later, those of Setién with a shot from Rakitic that Oblak deflected.The game was unleashed and the goal was a matter of minutes. He arrived in the 11 'after a corner from Messi that Diego Costa failed to clear and scored on his own door. Bad luck for the one from Lagarto who had the option of redeeming himself shortly afterwards thanks to a clear penalty by Arturo Vidal on a Carrasco who kept creating danger for the band. But the Spanish-Brazilian failed, or rather Ter Stegen was right, and everything seemed to stay the same until the VAR appeared the first time. The German goal was not on the bottom line at the time of the launch and it had to be repeated. The protests of the 11 Barça players surrounding Hernández Hernández were useless and after a yellow card to Piqué for the protests, Saúl did not fail to repeat. Turn to draw after 18 minutes.
The pace of the game did not slow down despite the goals. It was a round-trip duel. Messi was 2-1 with a masterful shot of a thread that went just wide. Those of the Cholo were still very clear and went out with speed towards the opposite field every time they controlled a ball in the middle of the field. The hydration pause had more expectation than ever, but seeing Messi listen to Sarabia and see that Setién speaks everything was clarified. About to come to the break a lack of Thomas on Riqui Puig gave Messi a good option to break the equality. And the duel between Pichichi and Zamora of LaLiga was won by the goal, deflecting for a corner a shot that was poisoned after being deflected by Saúl from the barrier.
The second part started as moving as the first. Semedo interned in the area, slight contact from Felipe and penalty for Barcelona. Messi transformed it with great skill, stinging the ball before the stretched to the opposite side of Oblak. The 2-1 was a morale kick for Barça but Simeone's men kept coming and Costa was able to tie with a header to the center of Arias, he did it a few minutes later after the third penalty of the night. Semedo brings down Carrasco and Saúl makes it 2-2 with some suspense as Ter Stegen came close to stopping the pitch. There was no truce and Arturo Vidal brushed the 3-2 with a strong shot that grazed the squad already with Joao Félix in the field.
With ten minutes to go Barça had only made one change with the entry of Sergi Roberto by Rakitic. Simeone, on the other hand, took out his entire arsenal with Morata, Vitolo and Lemar and Atlético finished better physically. Setién's reaction was to bet on Ansu Fati instead of Busquets with Griezmann heating the entire second half in the band. The French season is for reflection. He went to the field in 90 '. There was no time for more and a deserved point for those of a Simeone who still does not win in the league against Barcelona.
