When the final whistle went, the man in black quietly disappeared out of sight and set off running up the tunnel. For the first time since he took over at Atlético Madrid 15 long years ago, Diego Simeone had led his team to a victory at the Camp Nou, keeping alive his dream of taking them back to a European Cup final a decade later. In 2014 and 2016 Atlético knocked out Barcelona en route to Lisbon and Milan and while there is much to be done in at the Metropolitano in six days’ time, they have put themselves in a superb position to do so again.
Sometimes, everything fells like it turns on a single moment and this was one of those times. A run from Simeone’s son, Giuliano, just before half-time was that moment. Barcelona had been on top at that point but now he was away, heading towards the area, only to be tripped by Pau Cubarsí, earning the defender a red card and Atletico a free-kick from which Julián Alvarez curled in a wonderful strike. A goal down and a man down, there was no way back for Barcelona, although they gave everything, Lamine Yamal especially; instead, there was a second for Alexander Sørloth, the advantage theirs.
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