A desperate Atlético Madrid saw their season left without a realistic chance of domestic silverware after the Rojiblancos went out to FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Outplayed and without a shot on goal, an Atleti in despair lost 1-0 on the night (5-4 on aggregate) to a Lamine Yamal-inspired Barcelona. La Blaugrana have set up a Clásico cup final with Real Madrid on April 26th.Having beaten, drawn with, and led 2-0 after 70 minutes against Barça this season, Diego Simeone made changes to the starting 11 and then continually throughout the match. Those that did play weren’t helped by facing a card-happy referee who gave out a total of four yellows in the first half alone to Atlético players. Nonetheless, it was a toothless way to see a once-promising campaign wilt away by producing arguably the worst performance of the lot.Here are Into the Calderón’s ratings for this one.
Player Ratings
Juan Musso 4: To knowledge only of a higher power, wherever that my be, the Argentine goalkeeper opted to root himself instead of beating Ferrán Torres to a 50/50 ball in which he was probably favourite. Torres slipped a foot out and won the tie for his team. Details.
César Azpilicueta (subbed off 45′) 4: Might well have been taken off even without the yellow card picked up after just six minutes. Not a great half from the frustrated veteran, who failed to follow up on his sensational goal at the weekend.
José María Giménez 6: Just about kept the defence together, but, as a captain, failed to keep his team from losing their heads when the yellow cards flew about.
Robin Le Normand (58′) 5: Toyed with by Torres and co in the first period and then taken off early in the second after being briefly played in a back three. It’s clear his manager is still uncertain of his reliability in big games.
Reinildo (45′) 4: Lost the duel with his teenage counterpart, who managed to get the Mozambican booked and substituted at half time. Doubts were cast over the left-back’s red and white future pre-game and have likely only intensified after tonight.
Marcos Llorente 6: Temperate performance from a player who I imagine is hasta los huevos with the amount he’s been positionally messed about with this season. Still gives his all.
Rodrigo De Paul 5: Couldn’t find the pass he so often does, appearing totally exhausted. Looked like the pre-World Cup version of himself; a shame considering his immense season.Pablo Barrios 5: Started well amongst his less-engaged teammates but struggled to maintain his energy, similar to his central midfield partner.
Giuliano Simeone (45′) 4: His father’s gamble to start him on the left flank didn’t pay off; the Argentina international was promptly sent back to his more comfortable side around the 20-minute mark and hooked off at the break.
Antoine Griezmann (81′) 4: El principito se ha perdido su corona. The prince has lost his crown. Probably because Pau Cubarsí robbed it off him and handed it to Yamal, as that’s what happened with the ball for the majority of the night. His last chance at a domestic trophy with Atleti? Only time will tell, but if it was, he’ll regret his part in letting it slip away.
Julián Alvarez 4: La Araña’s first bad night in an Atleti shirt. By 70 minutes the forward had already lost the ball 15 times — half the amount of times he was on the ball.
Subs
Clément Lenglet (subbed on 45′) 5: At least he didn’t give away a penalty.
Javi Galán (45′) 5: Fared slightly better than Reinildo insofar as not picking up a booking, but it would be incorrect to suggest he got the better of Yamal.
Alexander Sørloth (45′) 6: Fired his first chance into the side netting and had a goal ruled out for being a fraction offside. Changed the nature of Atlético’s attack and largely inspired a fleeting Atleti improvement, but couldn’t find the goal he tends to find against Barcelona.
Nahuel Molina (58′) 3: The less said the better about whatever that was.
Rodrigo Riquelme 3: Minimal to no impact from someone who wouldn’t have featured if Ángel Correa had been available.
