This Atlético is not for feats: derail at home before the final in Porto

• Direct Narration and statistics

When you have your head elsewhere, the normal thing is that the paper in front of you ends up smeared. And Atlético had it in that European storm that awaits them in Porto. There is not much more explanation. The Metropolitano was sullied for the first time in the League by a Mallorca that accumulated seven games without winning. The rojiblancos tried to iron without success, or lucidity, a match that was always wrinkled. Even when Cunha thought she had her own safe. Barely 20 minutes later, Jan Oblak, lying on the grass, delivered a fist of rage on the green. With a slap in the form of a comeback marked on his face. Two claws, the last one from Kubo, with almost no sand on the clock, that sting and leave a mark for the final in Portugal that is coming.

There are also days when things start out crooked. Not 10 minutes had passed when

was lying on the grass. A problem for that fight, but also for it to appear in Porto.

will not be there

, sanctioned. Neither, it seems, the Balkan central, who left with that worried face that suggests a most inopportune setback. Only

knows what will happen to him between now and Tuesday. Not even 10 minutes had elapsed when

had to urgently position himself to

left

to, between them, contain a Majorca who had no qualms about pulling out his nails. He brought them sharpened from home. A few chills ran through the stands, more from defensive doubts than from the thermometer.

It was the strides and power of

, emboldened and packed by his first start, which most caught the attention of Atlético at the dawn of the tragic night in the Metropolitano. A cocktail of enthusiasm, faith and power that lacked a control point to be reflected on the scoreboard. The first two occasions were from the Brazilian striker, who had to adjust his crosshairs when he found himself in front of Reina. The best, as is often the case, is always yet to come. There was the occasional flash of local offense.

found

chest

, one meter from the goal.

ran into the Balearic goalkeeper.

did not hit the key moment.

But it was Oblak who was forced to temper the spirits of his own.

And he did it, as usual, with two balsamic stops.

Mallorca's chances sprang from Atlético's defensive tenderness.

Felipe hesitated more than he should and Abdon Prats, after a sublime filigree from the Korean

, whistled at

post

.

Twice Kang-In burst in, electric.

And twice a team lacking that defensive voltage that not so long ago was enough to scare away any ghost was shaken.

Now, back at least, life is quite different.

It seems like more than just a question of balance.

While in the south end of the stadium, a gigantic flag with the face of

waved in slow motion.

Kubo's judgment

Atlético swallowed hard, losing a lot of spark at the top when

, reserved like Suárez for the Porto final, does not let his imagination fly on the grass. It took an hour for the Frenchman to appear, who did so on the arm of

, absent due to injury since that blushing epilogue in Mestalla, a month ago. Both were walking through the Mallorcan area when Cunha found one of those opportunities that

not in the habit of forgiving. The trigger failed a second time. But there was no third. Suárez licked his lips in the band, even with intrigue in the environment, when

He scribbled a perfect plan, including dribbling, and gave the Brazilian a gift that he ended up hopping on the ground, without giving up the fight. The stands recognized him, by giving him his first standing ovation when he went to the bench.

Mallorca did not shrink

, who, despite his seven-game streak without winning in the League, always had the habit of selling his soul dearly.

And he did it again at the Metropolitano, just 10 minutes after the rojiblanco goal, which in another time would have been definitive.

He did it, first, with a header from

, after an accurate delivery to set pieces by Kang-In.

At full speed, the Japanese

split

the flimsy red-and-white wall

in two

.

An unexpected stab that leaves Atlético badly injured.

Especially mentally.

A tear without too much time to mend because Europe is already asking for passage.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

• sports

• First division

• soccer

• Atlético de Madrid

• RCD Mallorca

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