Simeone Seethes at 'Obvious Red' Snub as Barça Snatch Late Win – Injury Drama Looms for UCL Clash
Diego Simeone slammed a controversial VAR decision to rescind Gerard Martín's red card in Atlético Madrid's 2-1 LaLiga defeat to Barcelona, insisting it was a clear sending-off. Barça trained ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atlético, with Frenkie de Jong close to recovery but key defenders sidelined. The rivals face three meetings in 10 days, ramping up the tension.
Simeone's Post-Match Meltdown: Refs in the Crosshairs
Diego Simeone was proper fuming after Atlético Madrid's 2-1 gut-punch loss to Barcelona at the Metropolitano. Giuliano Simeone had the home crowd buzzing with an early opener, only for Marcus Rashford to level things up and Robert Lewandowski to nick it in the 87th minute. Barça now sit pretty with a seven-point lead atop LaLiga, especially after Real Madrid's slip-up at Real Mallorca.
But the real fireworks came over a VAR cock-up. Atlético were already down to 10 after Nico González saw red just before half-time – fair enough, said Simeone. Then Gerard Martín clattered into Thiago Almada with a late, foot-stomping lunge. Ref flashed a red, but VAR downgraded it to yellow. Simeone called it 'clear as day', comparing it to a red upheld in Betis vs Rayo. 'Everyone who knows footy sees it's a red,' chipped in Robin Le Normand.
Juan Musso in goal reckoned 11-v-11 they'd have bossed it. Simeone, ever the fighter, hopes the refs' committee sorts it midweek. 'We all make mistakes,' he shrugged, but you could hear the gritted teeth.
Barça's Training Grind: Injuries and Optimism
Over at the Joan Gamper, Barcelona shook off the drama with Monday training ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg back at the Camp Nou. Boss Hansi Flick and João Cancelo will face the press tomorrow, but the squad's got some gaps.
Frenkie de Jong sat out, nursing that hamstring tweak from late February. Club reckon he's good to go by Thursday post-match, eyeing minutes in the Espanyol derby and the UCL second leg at Wembley on 14 April. Marc Bernal (ankle sprain from the weekend) and Andreas Christensen (knee ligament woe) also missed out.
Good news? Ronald Araújo was back in the mix after subbing on Saturday, shaking off a thigh niggle – he'll be ready to marshall the backline. Raphinha rolled in from Brazil to rehab his hamstring. Flick beefed up numbers with youth guns Tommy Marquez, Alvaro Cortes, Xavi Espart and Diego Cuchen.
As reported by Alex Kirkland at ESPN Spain, Simeone rested stars like Julián Álvarez and Ademola Lookman for the league scrap, eyeing this mini-triple header: LaLiga done, now UCL home and away, all in 10 days.
Road to Rivalry: Three Clashes in Ten Days
First half was a cracker, Simeone reckoned – chances galore, solid shape. Nico's red flipped the script; second half was damage limitation. Lewy's rebound winner stung, but they nearly snatched a point.
'Great first half,' echoed Musso. 'Red hurt, but 11-v-11 we were top dogs.' Atlético now trek to Barcelona midweek, where the heat cranks up. Barça lead LaLiga, but Simeone's lot fancy UCL revenge.
Refs' leak on Martín's non-red? That's the cherry on top – stay tuned. With De Jong nearing return and Simeone plotting mischief, this tie's got fireworks written all over it. Fancy a pint to mull it over?
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