There are times when coaches play Russian roulette with decisions that are an all or nothing bet. This Thursday Simeone played his way into the Cup semi-finals by sending Griezmann and Morata to the bench with more than half an hour left. The somersault turned out well because between the two who entered, Correa and Memphis, they created the goal that gave Atlético the ticket to the semifinal against a Sevilla that was reliable and guerrilla in defense, but inane in attack. If he had been eliminated, Simeone would have put himself in the pillory. He took that risk and was brave. It is not easy to make the decision he made, but it is also true that neither Morata nor Griezmann looked fresh and lucid. The match, complicated and slate, required inventiveness and Correa brought out his art as a paddock player to invent an impossible play of his own at the top of the area. There he got rid of two defenders and handed the goal to Memphis to push the ball into an empty goal. If he finally goes to Saudi Arabia, Correa will leave with his latent imprint as a different player. As a footballer, where few dare to dribble too much, he always tries. Thus he has many times taken the chestnuts out of the fire for his teammates and Simeone. This Thursday, once again. His worth in these years has been monumental.
1
Oblak, Giménez, Mario Hermoso, Witsel, Saúl (Pablo Barrios Rivas, min. 56), De Paul, Nahuel Molina (Marcos Llorente, min. 55), Samuel Lino, Koke, Morata (Depay, min. 65) and Griezmann ( Strap, min. 65)
0
Ørjan Haskjold Nyland, Marcao, Nianzou Tanguy Kouassi, Sergio Ramos, Oliver Torres (Rakitic, 50th minute), Djibril Sow (Rafa Mir, 83rd minute), Boubakary Soumare, Adrià Pedrosa (Marcos Acuña, 83rd minute) and Jesus Navas (Juanlu Sanchez, 69 mins), Lucas Ocampos and Isaac Rosemary
Goals 1-0 min. 78: Depay.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano
Yellow cards Óliver Torres (min. 33), Sergio Ramos (min. 39), Adrià Pedrosa (min. 61), Giménez (min. 62), Mario Hermoso (min. 71), Lamela (min. 73), Koke (min. 75), Rakitic (min. 81) and Rafa Mir (min. 97)
The duel was thick from the beginning. With two teams held back by responsibility. The two are well covered with their defenses of three centre-backs. Both with an irritating lack of daring. Atlético was gripped by its status as favorite. To Sevilla, the Cup was their last bullet to dignify a season in which they will have to live with the shadow of relegation until the end.
That football without risks drew a prolonged wasteland. Atlético could not find the interior corridors no matter how much Griezmann and De Paul played to beat the backs of Sevilla’s pivots. Nahuel Molina and Lino did not lavish themselves much on the sides either. Quique Sánchez Flores was very concerned that he might expand on one-on-one matches. Navas always found with the help of a center back and a midfielder. Sevilla blocked that flank well. On the other side, Nahuel Molina took a while to get going. Navas and Pedrosa themselves did not lavish themselves much either. Two teams with deep and fast wingers contained. And so much contention reduced Oblak and Nyland to the status of mere spectators in a match that was far removed from the frenzy that was experienced in the other three round of 16 matches. Neither Simeone nor Quique wanted rock and roll. And the forwards paid for it. Neither the fired-up Morata nor the emerging Sevilla youth squad Isaac Romero could show any trigger. The two coaches opted for a long game that was more tactical than lively.
The only outbreak of a sport called football was the wall between Griezmann and Molina that Marcão interrupted with a youthful trip on the Argentine inside the area. Morata grabbed the ball to execute the shot, but Griezmann’s stardom weighed on him. The Frenchman’s throw was in line with the low quality of the duel. The Frenchman slipped and the ball went into the stands. Not even with a penalty was there any way that one of the goalkeepers would have to intervene in the first 45 minutes.
Sevilla emerged the winner from that unremarkable first half, because it was more convenient for them than for Atlético that nothing happened in the areas. Quique’s intention to play on his rival’s nerves was seen when he brought on Rakitic for Óliver Torres. He looked for courage and craftsmanship to try to put off Atlético’s most determined exit. Griezmann, in a semi-scissors preceded by a throw-in, touched the goal. Then Atlético became cloudy again. Simeone had to start shaking the tree. First, entering Barrios and Llorente through Saúl and Nahuel Molina. Legs and dynamism to break with a monotonous and predictable team that needed to change the pace. Then came that risky bet. Disbelief settled in the Metropolitan when the numbers of Morata and Griezmann appeared on the band for Correa and Memphis. An all or nothing order. For leaving the team without its two great references in attack and because the Argentine and the Dutch had not shown great signs in the last games of doing well.
Both assumed the responsibility of ending Sevilla’s resistance, which had shown the competitive fang that has filled the showcases with the Europa League. Between the two of them they signed that definitive play. Correa finding a gap in the street where there was none and Memphis pushing the ball, positioned where the instinct that he still has told him that he had to appear to put Atlético in the semifinals for the first time since 2016. Although a reckless action by Barrios, trying to dribble in the front of the area could have led to extra time. The red and white youth player recovered and cleared the ball from the Argentine inside the area. Gil Manzano declared a penalty; but, after the VAR review, he annulled it.