Desangelado. Sad. Melancholic. Emotional. Many qualifiers, and all along this line, to define, in an environmental way, the meeting that Atlético de Madrid and Valladolid disputed in the Metropolitan. First match behind closed doors at the mattress stadium, opened in 2017. It will also be historic.
A kind of training, without an audience, but with much at stake, and with the sentiment that Atlético put in to remember its legends and partners who died of the coronavirus. Minute of silence, personalized t-shirts in the seats of the subscribers and souvenir for Antic, Capón, Jones, Peiró and the child Christian minchola.
Simeone revolutionized the eleven, leaving seven who were starters on the bench. Or rather, in the stands, which is where the substitutes await their opportunity. With mask and keeping the safety distance, of course. Then on the grass, it's another story.
Precisely it was the substitutes of one and the other team who “dressed up” as fans in a deserted stadium. Especially the visitors, who cheered on their teammates in every action and protested the arbitration decisions, which led the referee to address them to calm down.
Already arriving at the stadium it was seen that this was something else. There was no red and white flood towards the Metropolitan. No one had been left on the giant flag, which also flew at half-staff. There were no 'selfies' in front of the stadium. But it did exhaustive controls for all who could access, journalists included. The situation requires it, of course. And inside, more of the same. The voice of Professor Ortega it rumbled in the warm-up. Also the encouragement given by the players. And the narration of the radio partners, giving everything as always. The footballers were to hear his comments. As in any Regional field. Pure amateurism.
It was curious to hear clearly Oblak give orders to defenders. The ‘ice man’ speaks. And a lot. It doesn't stop. He Cholo, in your line. It doesn't matter if there aren't 70,000 behind him. He could not harangue the masses to ask for the last breath, but he could rage Carrasco for seeing a yellow for protesting.
“Come on!” He screamed Simeone, already in the second half, with 0-0 on the scoreboard. The substitutes of Valladolid continued to make themselves known, especially when they claimed a penalty after an action by Lemar and an advantage law that the referee did not grant.
The few applauses that were heard came from Atlético employees and substitutes when Herrera and Lemar were replaced. Supportive, don't think badly. Had entered Koke, who from the first moment took the gallons out for a walk to ask his teammates for high blood pressure. Framework Vitolo. In 81 ’. Burst, within limitations.
There was no public in the Metropolitano, but there was a soul. That of those who were not last night, and that of those who will now see it from the third amphitheater. And as the night ended, with Atlético's anthem rumbling.