First things first, before we talk about controversy or points of contention with referees, we have to simply talk about the game and how it actually flowed. After Atlético Madrid’s sensational performance at the Wanda Metropolitano on Feb. 20, this was an absolute debacle at Juventus Stadium on Tuesday.
It’s difficult to remember a time when Diego Simeone got things so ineffably wrong. How could Atlético go from this (cojones):
Now that's a celebration. #Simeone pic.twitter.com/6vZP8rxwQB
— Alex Seixeiro (@alexfan590) February 20, 2019
To not landing a single shot on target against Juventus today?
With a spot in the quarterfinals beckoning, Atlético produced a flaming dumpster of footballing know-how. Antoine Griezmann talks about how he should be considered alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in discussion over who’s the world’s best, but the Frenchman was certainly the most ineffective player on the pitch Tuesday.
This needs to be said because once Juventus went 2-0 up — on the evidence we saw in the opening 50 minutes — the only winner was ever going to be the Old Lady, no matter how long the match played out.
Having said that, Juve’s winning goal looks shamefully awarded after watching the replays, and the Champions League knockout rounds have been blessed with that same capability as well, that of watching the replays.
We can only surmise that the VAR watched this one. Here’s the little shove from Correa, down goes Federico Bernardeschi after a breathtaking run and Ronaldo converts from the spot. Case closed.
The push that put Juve ahead pic.twitter.com/MpQFWOjPgv
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) March 12, 2019
Except that’s not what brought Bernardeschi down. The 25-year-old Italian felt a clip on his heel and went to ground. The problem? Bernardeschi clipped himself.
It wasn't a penalty.. he tripped over his own foot pic.twitter.com/bc9MXsZDmM
— Luis (suspended) (@LR10EliteEra) March 12, 2019
peNALTY #JuveAtleti pic.twitter.com/BTgRTFpWas
— Sébastien (@Shyrogan) March 12, 2019
It’d be cool to see a historic Champions League comeback that doesn’t involve an insanely controversial penalty for once.
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