Atlético’s sharp thinking and ability to strike when a rare chance is presented earned them a draw against Barcelona, who must now make do without Messi
Atlético Madrid took the free-kick but their captain acted like they hadn’t and Koke Resurrección didn’t get up. He was still sitting where Arda Turan had left him, two team-mates over him, two opponents in front of him and the referee looking down at him, seven men standing in a five-metre square, when Filipe Luís poked the ball to Gabi Fernández. An eighth man walked by, barely a metre from him. Barcelona’s full-back turned towards the area and their deep midfielder ambled across, retaking positions they wouldn’t get to. Gabi might as well have whistled and looked the other way. It was like he wasn’t really playing – until he played them all.
Somehow it didn’t feel real and by the time Barcelona realised it was, the game had changed. Suddenly, bang! Like the fish that doesn’t know the Wobbegong shark is there until he feels its teeth close around him, they had been caught. Gabi stopped ambling and activated everyone, hitting a short, sharp ball forward. Gerard Piqué saw it and rushed to the scene but Fernando Torres got there before him. Torres nudged it first time through Piqué’s legs to Ángel Correa. Javier Mascherano came across, slipped, fell on his face, and Correa put the ball past Marc-André ter Stegen, in off the post.
Related: Barcelona lose Lionel Messi to groin injury during draw with Atlético Madrid
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