Direct Narration and Statistics
It turns out that Mallorca ended up becoming a kind of boulevard of broken dreams for Atlético, which, as the song says, left its heart (and head) in Madrid.
Maybe he even did it in Manchester.
Simeone's footballers ran aground after six consecutive victories.
The Majorcans breathed, to whom Javier Aguirre has breathed his spirit, after seven straight defeats.
Neither by merit nor by football nor by conviction did the rojiblancos come close to victory.
They were a shadow on the shores of the Mediterranean.
The grayest version since the February resurrection.
His boat stopped at the foot of Mallorca, the same team that triggered its darkest streak in December since the arrival of Cholo.
An injury that makes the fight for the Champions League more complicated and reduces optimism for the tie against City.
There will be those who think that the first part could have been ignored.
Although Atlético seemed to start with enthusiasm, it didn't take 10 minutes for the reluctance that soaked the sunny table in Mallorca to catch on.
The rojiblancos, having digested the intense night at the Etihad, found themselves with the ball again.
His was the possession, yes.
But it conveyed the same sense of danger, none, as the local team.
Neither Oblak nor Sergio Rico managed to raise any of their eyebrows.
There were no shots on goal in that first assault where, beyond some connection between De Paul and Llorente on the right flank, Simeone's men hardly left any evidence of their presence.
Neither did Javier Aguirre's team, who arrived after seven consecutive defeats.
The reverse path of his adversary.
At Atlético, Luis Suárez returned to the starting lineup, more than a month and a half after his last time in Pamplona.
Almost nothing.
Carrasco also returned from the start, perhaps with a view to Wednesday's decisive match against Manchester City, once his suspension had been completed.
But the rojiblancos were thick throughout the afternoon.
Joao Félix, the best player in the League last March, watched everything from the bench for an hour.
He had been largely to blame for much of the good that has happened to his team in recent weeks.
It was the home debut of Javier Aguirre, former Atletico coach, whose first decisions were to shorten the pitch and change the location of the local bench.
Except for a few sparks from Muriqi and few flutters from Kang-In, Mallorca didn't scare anyone either.
For that, to change the tone of the afternoon, Simeone gave Cunha and Lemar entrance.
Griezmann and Koke seemed to have their heads elsewhere.
They may still have thought they were tongue-tied about the Etihad.
But, at least physically, they were in Mallorca.
Oliván was the first to dare to shoot, with a long shot that did not catch Oblak by surprise, just after the second half dawned.
It took Atlético 55 minutes to test Rico for the first time.
He did it with a header from Luis Suárez.
It was the only gesture of the Uruguayan throughout the afternoon.
Muriqi got scared from a set piece, already with Joao Félix on the green.
Because the matter, tangled, demanded privileged minds and legs.
Even more so when Atlético found themselves down on the scoreboard.
Reinildo hit Maffeo's foot in the area and the VAR did not discuss Martínez Munuera's decision to award a penalty.
Oblak could not respond to the shoe of the burly Muriqi.
Necessity also failed to sharpen Atlético's ingenuity, which barely made Sergio Rico flinch.
The rojiblancos ended up crashing against a fronton of red shirts, entrusted to a blunt attack without solutions.
Damned under the Balearic sun, on grass almost as dry as his head.
It was enough for Mallorca with vigor and pride to rear its head again.
The motivation has no secrets for Vasco Aguirre.
This is how Atlético nailed his knee for the first time in that 14-day League that promises strong emotions in May.
A team that once again remembered that disoriented group between December and January.
Not even Europe serves as an alibi.
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Atletico Madrid
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