Completely Crazy Match. By the fifth minute, Atlético had the match and even the tie solved with a 0-2. But Barça turned the match around, reaching a 4-2 that Atlético neutralized in the final minutes, establishing the definitive 4-4.
A Tribute to Soccer, Julián Álvarez opened the scoring in the 1st minute, and Griezmann took advantage of a counterattack to make it 0-2. Barça absorbed the bitter pill and reacted furiously. Pedri took advantage of a brilliant play by Lamine Yamal to narrow the gap in the 19th minute.
Meanwhile, Cubarsí, a minute later, finished a cross to equalize with a header. And like a mirror image, Íñigo Martínez, also from a set piece, headed in the 3-2 in the 41st minute.
4-2 in the 83rd Minute
Lewandowski replaced Ferran Torres, who wasted two clear goal-scoring chances alone against the goalkeeper, and took advantage of an assist from Lamine Yamal to blast in the 4-2.
Barça was enjoying itself, playing fluidly against an Atlético morally sunk after seeing a 0-2 turn into a 4-2. Pedri was commanding and leading, and Frenkie De Jong was everywhere.
Lamine outpaced Galán first and then Reinildo. And in the 83rd minute, the tie seemed solved with the 4-2, but in the remaining time, Llorente first and then Sorloth equalized the match and left the swords drawn.
Barça lacked the concentration to hold onto a 4-2, which was an extraordinary result. But after seeing how the match started, the result must be accepted as good.
The Best and Worst of Barça
The best of Barça, its bursts of brilliant and fluid play. The worst, the bursts of lack of concentration that gave wings to Atlético. The "Colchoneros" made a palindrome: they surprised Barça at the beginning and the end.
The rest of the match was for Barça. At the end of the clash, Hansi Flick went to greet Cholo Simeone, they embraced, and the Argentine coach said: "in the return leg, another match like this." Flick smiled, but the procession was inside.