Cruellest week ends in despair for Simeone after Barça’s late flourish | Sid Lowe
Atlético coach struggling to deal with last-gasp defeat that rocked their title bid just days after shootout loss in Europe
There was a little swipe of Diego Simeone’s foot and the ball was in the net. As Conor Gallagher had dashed up the left and provided the pass, Atlético Madrid’s coach accompanied him from the other touchline. As Alex Sørloth provided the finish he did too, black dress shoe joining his striker’s red boot guiding the ball beyond Wojciech Szczesny. 10.32pm on a Sunday at the end of the hardest week and Atlético were 2-0 up against Barcelona, their world healing. The Metropolitan exploded but Simeone didn’t run and shout, didn’t conduct the crowd or clench his fist, didn’t embrace anyone, not this time. Instead, he gazed silently at the sky and looked as if he could cry, a purer portrait of pride.
Soon, he could have been forgiven if the tears were flowing. Twenty-five seconds of football later, Barcelona had scored. Five minutes 25 seconds after that, they scored again. And then, in injury time, Lamine Yamal’s shot hit Reinildo Mandava, changed direction and spun into the net, even a draw taken from Atlético on 91 minutes 25 seconds. When Ferran Torres added a fourth, it was the last touch and too much. For the first time in 14 years and 725 games under Simeone, Atlético had lost from two up. It took 20 minutes. Seven days after losing a goal lead and top spot with Getafe scoring on 88 minutes and 92 minutes. Four days after losing to Madrid on penalties, Julián Alvarez’s spotkick ruled out for touching it twice.
