Atlético’s class, composure made the difference in UCL bout with Barça

Atlético de Madrid are through to the UEFA Champions League semifinals after a dramatic 2-1 loss to FC Barcelona on Tuesday night. It marks the first time in Diego Simeone’s tenure when Atlético have lost a home match in the Champions League knockout stage. But it ends a nine-year drought for Simeone’s men as they reach the last four of the Champions League — and they’ve done it by eliminating Barcelona from a second cup competition in as many months.

Lamine Yamal (in the fourth minute) and Ferrán Torres (in the 24th) struck quickly to erase Atlético’s first-leg advantage. Ademola Lookman’s response, on a lightning-quick counterattack, ended the scoring at the 30:11 mark.

What followed was 67 minutes and 50 seconds of survival.

Barcelona ended the game with 71 percent possession and 10 men after Éric Garcia was sent off for denying Alexander Sørloth a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The Blaugrana buzzed around the Colchoneros’ jittery back line until the very end but hardly created chances after halftime — and especially after Torres’ second goal was called back for offsides — as the hosts saw out a narrow result that secured their progression to the semis.

Let’s dive into some takeaways from another loss to Barcelona that functions as a win.

Mola Lookman’s signature goal

Atlético did not start this game well at all. Clément Lenglet, making his first Champions League start for nearly six months, bounced an errant pass off Yamal; Torres played it back to Yamal, who rolled the opening goal past Juan Musso. Twenty minutes later, Lenglet was caught out again as he reacted too slowly to Dani Olmo’s through ball for Torres before the Spain striker ripped the second goal beyond Musso’s reach. Lenglet, just a bundle of nerves by this point, gave away the ball again from the ensuing kickoff, and Yamal’s trivela assist for Fermín López would have made it 3-0 if not for a superlative save from Musso

It felt as if the walls were closing in. Barcelona had all the momentum. But along came Lookman to snatch it right back.

The move started with Koke, dropping deep to help build play amid Lenglet’s issues with progressing the ball. Koke passed to Robin Le Normand, who moved it along to Nahuel Molina. Immediately upon seeing Molina receive the pass — and with Barcelona disorganized in the center of the park — Griezmann dropped back into the Atleti half. He touched the ball on to Marcos Llorente, who blew past Éric García on a trademark barreling run into the Barça half, carried into the penalty area and supplied Lookman with an expertly-weighted assist.

But how about Lookman’s finish? He held off Jules Koundé and clipped the ball delicately past Joan García at the ‘keeper’s near post. It was a sensational goal from an absolutely sensational player — and in the end, it decided a tight, intense, nerve-wracking three-hour tie.

Lookman has provided six goals and three assists in 17 games, invaluable contributions that have vaulted Atlético into this competition’s semifinals and into the Copa del Rey final in a few days’ time. Lookman’s speed, directness, intelligence and technique have gone some way toward fixing Atleti’s attack and restoring the counterattacking identity that Simeone’s first teams bore; his improvement off the ball in recent matches speaks to his unwavering commitment to enhancing his role, embracing the work Simeone demands his attackers put in.

Lookman’s €35 million transfer from Atalanta in February looks cheaper by the day. Jugadorazo.

Matteo Ruggeri gets his big-game credentials

In the 70th minute, Ruggeri and Gavi collided as they went for a ball in the air. Gavi’s elbow caught Ruggeri over the right eye, which paused play for a few minutes as a big, blue bandage was wrapped around the Italian’s head.

Ruggeri soldiered on and continued doing what he had done for most of the tie: keeping Lamine Yamal at bay as well an anyone realistically can against someone of his ability.

“Stopping Lamine Yamal” is a matter of context. He is 18 years old and he might be the best player on the planet. That in and of itself is extraordinary. He took 93 touches in the Metropolitano on Tuesday, including 14 in the Atlético box; he completed nine dribbles and created four big chances. Through individual quality and sheer volume, Yamal ensures that he won’t be silenced.

So, you have to do what you can. And thanks to his anticipation, length and physical stature, Ruggeri has a unique set of attributes that made Yamal work pretty hard to accrue his stats in Tuesday’s second leg.

Ruggeri made five ball recoveries, won seven of 14 duels and three of five tackles. Over both legs, Ruggeri won 11 duels, recovered the ball 10 times, made five tackles and picked up the assist on Alexander Sørloth’s key goal in the first leg.

For the concerns about Ruggeri’s clunkiness and lack of pace, he has showcased the attitude and clutch gene needed to compete at the top level. He’s quickly endearing himself as a cult hero — and most vitally, someone who can be counted on when the stakes are at their highest.

Marcos Llorente is one of the best players in the world

“How many Llorentes have played in the match today?” asked DAZN’s Àlex De Llano. “The ’14’ has appeared everywhere to offer security, stop the opponent, get his team out (from their own half). Simply spectacular.”

Llorente has spoken this season about the feeling that he is in his physical and professional prime. His performance on Tuesday surely cements his status as an elite todocampista for the uninitiated.

Llorente won eight ground duels and five tackles in addition to providing the priceless assist to Lookman for the goal that — eventually — took Atleti through to the semis. But one instinctive action against a tiring Barça in the second half proved his overall value and fundamental importance to the team is far more than just “he can play at right-back and in central midfield!”

In the 77th minute, Llorente, Koke, Sørloth and Nico Gonzalez swarmed Barça captain Pedri as he tried to build a move. Koke pried the ball free, and Sørloth instinctively knocked it down for Llorente, who went backwards for Le Normand. The center-back cycled the ball to Molina, and Nico quickly formed a triangle with the right-back and Llorente. Nico then laid it off to Llorente, who sprung Sørloth free with a through ball — a move that prompted Éric García to haul down Sørloth on his way into the Barça box, an action that led to referee Clément Turpin showing the defender a red card following a VAR review.