A doubtful penalty and at 80 minutes. Ridicule from Atlético to Vic and new evidence that the team is in the throes of a massive crisis. Simeone was forced to use all his figurines against a regional rival who put him on the ropes and exposed all the shortcomings of a group that has nowhere to catch him. Giuliano, who imposed a more than questionable maximum sentence, avoided real drama and caused the action that resolved another night of total darkness they found themselves in once again many notable players, the first of them being the Norwegian Sorloth, replaced at halftime after a horrible first half in which he lost nine of the 20 balls that reached his feet.
Atlético’s first half was as difficult as last Sunday Benito Villamarin. Especially since the difference between the categories was overwhelming. Simeone fielded nine first-team playerswith just the alterations of Kostis in defense and Javi Serrano in midfield, but it took 40 minutes to create the first dangerous action in front of the Catalan goal, on a shot from Giuliano who rejected the defense, and reached the break with a single shot between the three sticks by Gallagher although, yes, Cuadra Fernández escaped a penalty by very clear hands in the area with a shot Sortloh.
Vic, convinced that a giant had come to see him, started shy and hidden, but as the game took minutes, he realized that the lion wasn’t as fierce as they painted it and ended up daring to cross the forbidden zone, even forcing Mosso intervene on occasion. It didn’t create any danger either, but at least he showed off his nails and aroused the enthusiasm of the public who filled the Hipòlit planes, and who euphorically fired his players at the end of the 45 minutes, with a draw, convinced that the miracle was possible. Of course, looking at Atlético, no one could deny that.
Simeone perceived the danger and plunged the scalpel into the back of the locker room. Galán, Koke and Lemar joined the game and the two players from the reserve team and the Norwegian left him Sorloth, a real suspicious bump in the first part. Eleven professional footballers against eleven amateurs and there were 45 minutes left to impose a superiority that should have been clear from the start.
The three changes were not enough for Atlético to break the deadlock and score the first goal, leading to a Cholo increasingly in distress to use your best weapons. Julián Álvarez and Griezmann completed the carouselin the case of the Frenchman replacing his compatriot Lemar, who only lasted 20 minutes in the field. To all this, the Vich, far from being intimidated, he threatened Musso again on more than one occasion while on the other goal Augustine Blackberrywho started the second half with two good saves, had almost no work left.
The night looked like a drama when at 79 minutes Giuliano fell in the box with a view to Bertrande And Cuadra Fernández He covered eleven meters without hesitation. The images weren’t that clearbut this time the absence of VAR, which had benefited Vic in the first half, ended up harming them because not only the referee remained unchanged, but alsoothers expelled Senyé for a double yellow card. Julián Álvarez converted the penalty and that ended the red and white drama…for now.
Vic went in with everything he had and was forced to open up, which they took advantage of. Julián Álvarez in the 88th minute to complete the score with a low shot that Agustín Mora did not reach, and which showed on the electronics more difference than what had been seen on the field between a First Division and a Regional. Atlético has a real problem and Simeone is going to have a hard time fixing it.
