The most suffering Atlético of the great nights with Simeone returned in Anfield. A team that endured a perfect storm from the rival, was overwhelmed for many minutes, but ended up winning thanks to an ode to effort and resistance taken to the extreme.
The cholismo that the Gabi, Koke, Tiago, Godín, Raúl García, Filipe, Juanfran, Arda, Griezmann and company but that before Liverpool the new mattress generation was already in charge of carrying it out. Unlike in Turin a year ago, Atlético came out to scare the reds, with a Diego Costa's chance after a great pass from João Félix before reaching the first minute of the game. But the English subdued Atlético with a fantastic Oxlade-Chamberlain between the lines and the occasions began to fall more and more consistently, just like the rain on the field of play.
It was Oblak in charge of supporting the red and white goal with nine merit stops to hold until the extension. There, with a 2-0 win against Liverpool, Atlético's ability to overcome adversity and “never stop believing” reappeared. Marcos Llorente, who had replaced Diego Costa to reinforce the mattress right wing, set himself up as the hero facing goal with a double and an assist in 25 minutes not only to qualify Atlético to quarters, but also to achieve a historic victory at the home of the reigning Champions of the Champions League.
A script that had already been seen several times since the arrival of Simeone to the mattress bench. A feat that only seems possible in Atlético, with everything apparently lost and a superior rival on the pitch or with the score in favor, but ending up achieving the objective, something that makes the Cholo team one of the most fearsome to face in a tie. In Champions teams like Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern they had already suffered the mattress suffering ability.
The Blaugrana team already fell into the hands of Atlético in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Champions League when they presented a superior squad on paper. But it was in 2016 when the rojiblanco team achieved the feat of enduring with one less at the Camp Nou for 55 minutes after the controversial expulsion of Fernando Torres. A resistance exercise that allowed Atleti to leave the Barcelona field alive after falling 2-1. Those of the Cholo went back the tie with a 2-0 at the Vicente Calderón in an epic night.
Against Chelsea it was in the semifinals of the 2014 competition, when Fernando Torres overtook the blues Y put a 1-0 that sent Atlético home. However, given the difficulty of the situation, the best face of the team came out. Three goals to take Stamford Bridge and capture brilliant football in England. But if Liverpool remembered one night, it was the one in Munich. Bayern jumped to the field of the Allianz Arena to overcome the goal of the first leg of Saúl, same case that the English. But they also met a titanic Oblak, with nine other interventions including a penalty and a goal by Griezmann made it 2-1 good to qualify for the Milan final.
In League, Europa League and Copa del Rey
The extreme ability to overcome the adversities of Atlético have also been seen on dates featured in the League, Europa League and Copa del Rey. To win the league title in 2014, Atleti He needed to draw or win at the Camp Nou against Barcelona. In the case of defeat, it would be the Blaugranas who would take the title. Diego Costa and Arda Turan, two of the great rojiblancas stars, were injured in the first minutes and Alexis Sánchez put those of Tata Martino ahead. But despite all the setbacks Atlético ended up scoring through a header from Godín to achieve a historic title.
Godín scores at Camp Nou the goal that earned the League title for Atlético.
David Ramos (Getty Images)
Atlético have lifted two Europa League matches at the hands of Simeone. Despite prevailing with forcefulness in the two finals (3-0 against Athletic and Olympique de Marseille), The most suffering rojiblanco game in the competition can be found in 2018, corresponding to the first leg of the semifinals. Atlético lived in the Arsenal field the expulsion of Vrsaljko after 10 minutes of meeting. Despite playing practically the whole game with one less on a rival field, with the Gunner fans pressing and living their revelry with the Lacazette goal, Oblak supported Atleti in the match and Griezmann equalized in the 82nd minute taking advantage of the first great mattress occasion. Those of the Cholo would confirm their pass in the return when winning by 1-0.
Going even further back in time, in 2013 during the Cup final 14-year streak ended without beating Real Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabéu and after starting fitting in a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. Simeone's got trace through Diego Costa and Miranda, the latter in overtime, to achieve one of the most important nights since the arrival of Cholo and that changed the future of the team and served to remove all the complexes against the maximum rival.