Saúl's season is being very complicated and it is likely no longer straightened. In recent times it has been one of the usual, but as soon as Simeone has had all his players ready, the Elche has fallen from the eleven. Luck no longer smiles on him and what happened to him at the Camp Nou is almost the last straw: He came in in the 13th minute for Lemar and then was the next substituted, in the 67th minute.
When the Frenchman was injured, Cholo reacted quickly and introduced the youth squad. Kondogbia was another option, but It was Saúl who entered to position himself on the left and look for combinations with Carrasco. However, among his missions was also that of cover Messi, specifically those diagonals from the right to the center with which he has been winning games for more than a decade. For stopping one of those, took the yellow card in the 35th minute, and that already conditioned him, as could be seen on occasion.
That's why when, after game time, Simeone decided to put João Félix in, the one sacrificed was Saúl, the one who had the least in the field. Not that his performance was bad, but the coach did not want to risk a second card. Even so, the medium did not like to see the number again 8 on the poster and He left the field with a crooked face.
Saúl celebrates one of his two goals against Barça in 2020.
JOMA / LALIGA
Saúl's role change at Atlético can be understood by comparing the last two visits to the Camp Nou and analyzing the contrast between the role of the midfielder in one and the other. This time he was not a starter, although he had the opportunity to play from very early, but without luck. A year ago, played the 90 minutes and with enough gallons to shoot and score the two penalties that the team had.