It’s no secret that focusing on just one competition can be beneficial to a team when it comes to the cut-throat run-in to any given season. That’s simply common sense. Fewer games mean star players can sit out games of lesser importance in order to be in tip-top condition for those that matter. Never has that been more noticeable than at Atletico Madrid in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Unlike in recent campaigns when Diego Simeone’s men have been competing alongside both Barcelona and Real Madrid in a quest to win La Liga, this season, Los Rojiblancos are well off the pace and are simply settling for a spot in the top four. But while that may be somewhat of a pessimistic approach, it is also a smart one. Atleti have already secured a spot in the Copa Del Rey final by beating Barca across two legs in the semifinals, and now, they look poised and ready to dump the Blaugrana out of the Champions League as well.
Atletico Madrid Stun Barcelona
The Spanish capital’s perceived “second club” headed to Catalonia for the first leg of their quarterfinal in the Camp Nou with the betting odds stacked against them. Some outlets listed them as long as 5/1 to secure the victory against the current runaway La Liga leaders, as well as 25/1 outsiders to win the Champions League outright. But Simeone’s side has never been one to shy away from their underdog status.
With ‘El Cholo’ heavily rotating his squad domestically in the weeks leading up to the contest, Atletico were fresh and ready for the fight. Barcelona, meanwhile, looked jaded and in need of a rest. And when their highly rated teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off on the stroke of half-time with the game finely poised at 0-0, Simeone and Atleti took full advantage. Julian Alvarez slammed home the resulting free kick to give the visitors the lead, before Alexander Sørloth bundled home to double the lead in the second half.
Atletico now have a 2-0 lead to defend in the second leg, and…
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