The group carried a quiet resignation, bent by another expulsion of Savic and by the team’s passivity, a squad that never quite convinces. The Muscatel faithful stayed present, offering prayers to every saint and thanking San Oblak for whatever aid can arrive, because Celta’s goal could arrive at the last breath. The staff, worn out, stood thirty seconds away from stirring Memphis Depay into open dispute. There Carrasco appeared, weaving, shooting, yet the ball lingered in limbo and the Dutchman, turning on the run, missed with a futsal-like touch that proved decisive against Celta. Balaidos earned its nickname, Don Futbol, in that moment. The sport proved far easier to manage than a company’s income statement, and far more perplexing than tallying two by two. Fate, in its capriciousness, allowed Atleti to loosen the hand of her luckless partner, to buy a lottery ticket at the last moment, while Memphis collected royalties. He offered a rescue and three valuable points. Throughout the season there are games where a team plays well, arrives with twenty chances, and still fails to win. The takeaway: a good game, a wild face. Then there are matches where a team seems to deserve to lose, yet ends up with more than enough—if luck is on its side, they win. The conclusion is simple: a bad game, but three points. It remains inexplicable. Soccer, indeed.
Atleti, a potential title contender on the road and flirting with relegation at home, adds and continues, in fits and starts. The team fights its own worst enemy, but presses on. The target is third place, and achieving it requires a sustained upgrade across the squad. For now, it’s encouraging to see, after the critics, that the most reliable players are Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso. First and foremost because they are healthy. Second, because they never stop running. Third, because they show that they can fail but maintain tremendous commitment. That last quality—that grit—goes a long way in this locker room and at this moment in time. Alongside Oblak’s stellar shot-stopping and the contributions of the two defenders mentioned, Koke’s long-standing record also deserves attention. Three names stand out in particular. The first is Rodrigo DePaul. The staff is just seconds away from reloading him, yet he keeps giving his all and keeps growing. The second is Pablo Barrios. The squad was momentarily ready to pounce and question Simeone for substituting him at halftime, but the reality is that the youngster is clear about his talent and shows real potential. He isn’t flawless in every moment, and that is part of the learning curve. And the third name is Memphis.
While Morata’s goal drought continues to invite talk about offside lines and fitness, the staff remains a touch away from a Memphis critique. If he is not in peak shape, if he seems out of form, if some doubt creeps in about his value, the response is the same: the goal at Barça stands as proof of his capability. The player moved, pressed, and finished with precision, and no drink was wasted on social media as fans toasted a rare moment of composure. The crowd that formed around the bottle club gives a nod to the homegrown spirit. In Atleti’s most tumultuous season since Simeone’s arrival, those instincts can still rise to the surface. Restoring that stubborn confidence is a priceless gift. May it endure, and may fans learn to patience beyond a thirty-second window and a single tweet. There is value in loving Atleti most when they deserve it least, because that’s exactly when they need it most.
Reuben Uria