Barcelona 2-3 Atletico analysis: Ter Stegen missed as Oblak stars, VAR hurt Catalans, Valverde going nowhere

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Ben Hayward10 January 2020

Barcelona's visit to Saudi Arabia came to an abrupt end on Thursday night.

The LaLiga leaders were beaten 3-2 by Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the revamped Spanish Supercopa and will be heading home as the Rojiblancos meet Real Madrid in Sunday's showpiece in Jeddah.

Ernesto Valverde's side went behind to a Koke goal in the opening minute of the second half, before scoring twice to take the lead through Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. They conceded two in the final 10 minutes however as the Rojiblancos sealed a dramatic victory.

This latest setback for Barca raises further question marks over the team's ability to compete in the knockout stages of the Champions League later in the season, while Valverde will be under scrutiny once again.

VAR calls hurt Barcelona

Messi couldn't save Barca on this occasion.
REUTERS

On another day, Barcelona would have won this match comfortably. But VAR, which is supposed to make matters fairer for everyone, did not help the Catalans' cause on Thursday night.

Barca could have had two penalties in the first half, but the video assistant referee was not even consulted when Thomas Partey fouled Samuel Umtiti (even though the Atletico midfielder was booked), nor when Arturo Vidal was pulled to the floor in the area.

In the second period, Messi saw a super strike ruled out after the ball had hit his upper arm or shoulder and Vidal was then penalised for an extremely marginal offside which saw a Gerard Pique effort chalked off. Atletico, it should be said, should probably also have had a second penalty for a Pique handball late on.

Barca were unfortunate to see their two strikes ruled out and at 4-1, there would definitely have been no way back for Atletico. "It dampens your mood," Luis Suarez said afterwards. "The actions can only be seen by VAR. We have to get used to it."

And Lionel Messi said: "Unfair or not, we can't do anything. The team that wins is the one that scores more goals. We were superior, but we made childish mistakes and we let in two goals in the last few minutes."

The feeling is that Barcelona did not receive the fortune their performance merited. It is said that VAR has made football fairer, yet often the luck of a decision would fall in favour of the team that deserved it the most. That has been lost somewhat since the technology came in and was certainly not the case in this match.

Oblak shone for Atletico; Ter Stegen missed by Barca

The Atletico goalkeeper was in fine form.
AP

Jan Oblak is usually a busy man when Atletico play Barcelona and the Slovenian goalkeeper made a number of spectacular saves in Thursday's game, denying Messi, Suarez and Griezmann and single-handedly keeping his side in the game.

Oblak and Ter Stegen are probably the world's two top goalkeepers at the moment and Barca badly missed the German, who is currently recovering from tendinitis.

Ter Stegen has saved the Blaugrana on several occasions this term, notably away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and twice against Slavia Prague in the same competition. Had he been present in this game, Barca surely would have won.

In his absence, Neto conceded a penalty and might have done better in both of the other two goals. For the second, scored by Correa, he got a strong hand on the ball, but was unable to keep it out. Barca will hope their number one is back soon.

Valverde is going nowhere

Valverde's woes continue.
REUTERS

Ernesto Valverde was booed by Saudi fans inside the stadium before and during the match. The Barcelona coach is an unpopular figure with many, but will no doubt have been surprised by the hostile reception he received in Jeddah.

Even at 2-1 up, he was jeered. And after the defeat, social media was awash with calls for his dismissal. But as far as Barca are concerned, nothing has changed.

"We trust in him," Messi said afterwards. And Suarez added: "The coach is not to blame. Mistakes and certain distractions cost us." And asked if the 55-year-old's job was on the line, the club's director of institutional relations, Guillermo Amor, said: "Nothing like that."

Issues remain and Valverde was slow to make his changes, but this performance was actually one of the better ones of late. And if Valverde was not dismissed by the board after last season's collapse at Anfield, he will not be removed for this relatively meaningless loss. Until the end of the season at least, Ernesto is going nowhere.

Atletico never gave up and Simeone's subs were key

Simeone made the right calls.
AFP via Getty Images

Diego Simeone is not a coach necessarily known for his positivity or proactivity, yet his substitutions in the second half were absolutely key in Atletico's win.

First, he sent on Koke for Hector Herrera at the interval and was rewarded as the Spain midfielder (just back from injury) netted straight from the kick-off.

Later, he introduced Vitolo and the winger won the penalty which led to the second goal. And his final replacement, Marcos Llorente, was outstanding in the final 20 minutes as the Rojiblancos produced a late turnaround. Changing Correa's position was also key as the Argentine hit the winner.

"In the last quarter of an hour, Atletico's heart and fight appeared," Simeone said afterwards. "We had the feeling that, if we equalised, we would go on to win the game." And they did.

Money can't buy a Clasico final

A Madrid derby awaits on Sunday.
REUTERS

Saudi Arabia is paying €120 million to host the Spanish Supercopa over three seasons in the oil-rich nation and the new four-team format virtually guarantees the presence of both Barcelona and Real Madrid in every single edition.

When the two teams were kept apart in November's draw, it looked as if there might be a Clasico clash in the final. And that possibility grew on Wednesday as Los Blancos beat Valencia to seal their place in Sunday's showpiece.

But not even all that money can buy a Clasico final. Atletico, facing a hostile crowd on Thursday, upset the fanatical support for Barca in the stands by beating the Blaugrana and ensuring that the final will be not a Clasico, but a Madrid derby instead.

It is perhaps a fitting finale to this farce of a competition that the two teams that did not claim any silverware last season will be the ones competing for the trophy. Saud Arabia need not worry, though – because Barca and Madrid will be back next year.

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