A flood of Atlético fans collapsed the entrance to La Cartuja from the Puente de la Barqueta at around six in the afternoon. The red and white fans responded to their team’s call in the final. It was more difficult for the players, surprised by an initial goal, hit by a late exit from Musso. In that interval, Atlético lived off Griezmann’s flashes, Koke’s attempts to organize traffic and, above all, Lookman. There is something disconcerting about Nigerian football. It is not very clear if he is a winger or a forward. What does suit him well is the La Cartuja stadium. His goal sustained Atlético in the first half, although Simeone took a gamble. In the 62nd minute, the Argentine coach made a risky decision. He took the Nigerian, who was having a good game, off the field to put Sorloth on. He left, who was not playing at a brilliant level. Some, in the stands, bet on the departure of the world champion. Cholo decided to pull his weight and he was right. At least until the final penalty shootout.
“I did it because I understood that with Sorloth as nine we could have more scoring situations and I understood that Julián and then Baena could do what they were doing. We have very important players and I understood it that way,” Simeone admitted at a press conference.
“After the first goal we fell into a low rhythm again, with little intensity. The second half was the one that had to be played. We found the 2-2, we were able to score the third with either Cardoso or Baena and we went to extra time where we had one each. We competed very well, they gave everything we had but this time the penalties went to them. I congratulate Real”, stated the Argentine coach. “I’m not thinking about Arsenal, today hurts me a lot. We needed to win, we couldn’t win. We know that we gave everything, that gives me a lot of peace of mind,” concluded the Argentine.
It was then that Julián broke free. He assumed the stripes and became Atlético’s most decisive footballer. He was the key man because he always offered himself where it was most difficult, on the edge of the area, where, for example, Sorloth suffered. In the middle of Llorente’s enormous effort, and a left-footed shot that became Atlético’s tie. A goal equal to that of very few players and that showed the talent of the world champion, the man of the decisive goals. However, in the penalty shootout, Marrero stopped the Argentine star’s shot, who had hit the crossbar in extra time. He was comforted by his companions. Real won.
Lookman saw all of this from the bench, having just signed for Atlético in the quarterfinals of the Cup in this same La Cartuja stadium. There he showed his abilities with a goal in the 37th minute and a mobility that baffled the Betis defenders. “But who is this Lookman?” was heard in the green-and-white locker room that night. It was a happy day for Atlético and for the Nigerian. In the same scenario, now in the , Lookman was more of a winger than a forward. It became the only way out for a stuck Atlético, who found in the red and white a distorting element for Real. A great duel was forged with Aramburu, a side from the old ones, one of the small players capable of turning around in half a second. Matarazzo admitted his player’s one-on-one against Lookman while Barrenetxea was freed from offensive duties. A risky bet, but also effective.
At 19 minutes, Lookman changed into a forward again. He scrambled in the area to hit a wonderful shot away from Marrero. La Cartuja definitely suits Lookman, who sang from the rooftops about the tying goal of a somewhat reserved Atlético, covered on the right wing, where Giuliano didn’t even smell it, much more alive in that left area. Lookman made a great play in the 31st minute, with a back pass that Girezmann couldn’t finish. The forward has adapted wonderfully to what Simeone asks of him. He attacks space when he has to and also knows how to play one on one. In one of them against Aramburu he left his arm behind so they could call for a foul. The forward did not accept it kindly, nor did he want to place himself in a barrier in the face of a lateral foul by Real. Alberola had to insist a lot. Still, in the 42nd minute, he threw a ball wide before Musso ran over Guedes.
Final foul, silence and crossbar
Lookman maintained his prominence in the second half. He left a good ball for Griezmann, which the Frenchman finished high. He also took a foul on Aramburu that could have been yellow and still took a dangerous shot in the 60th minute. Simeone, however, stopped believing in Lookman’s mystique at La Cartuja. Atlético’s brand new winter signing (35 million to Atalanta). He abandoned his favorite field because the Argentine coach opted for Sorloth. A type of forward that has nothing to do with the Nigerian, who left the final with a goal and two shots off Marrero’s goal. It was then that Julián became more refined. With his prominence, with his great goal and still in the 95th minute when silence fell in La Cartuja. A foul on the edge of the area, more or less in the same place where he spread terror at the Camp Nou, could have been 3-2 for Atlético. The ball hit the barrier. The fans of the , who celebrated their third Copa del Rey in style, breathed a sigh of relief. The second he achieved in La Cartuja, then without an audience. Julián had to ruminate on his wounds from the defeat.
