In the 75th minute, Simeone made his final adjustment. He took off a midfielder and brought on number 7, Phoenix. Four attackers lined up across the front, brimming with confidence.
But Simeone's approach was all or nothing. If Barcelona won the ball, their defense would be paper-thin—one touch and it would tear.
Barcelona's players could see what was happening, so they tightened up even more, hoping to force a mistake and launch a swift, effective counterattack.
Li Mingyu hovered near the center circle, ready to sound the call for a counter at any moment.
After some time to regroup, Atletico Madrid's players had calmed down.
They knew they were still behind and had to score quickly to level the match. But they were professionals, after all. Once they had settled, they continued to follow Simeone's plan, probing their way into Barcelona's territory in wave after wave.
Suárez had already squandered several good chances, even though he knew Barcelona's back line inside out.
Put another way, Barcelona's defenders knew him just as well.
Araujo, the center-back who had just come on, stuck close to Suárez, giving him no chance to receive the ball.
Before the young Araujo had entered the match, Koeman had already told him what he needed to do: mark Suárez tightly and leave him no room at all.
Araujo followed those instructions to the letter. He repeatedly tugged and grappled with Suárez, thwarting him each time. And the clever Araujo had managed to avoid a yellow card.
After being repeatedly fouled on the sly, Suárez was furious.
When had he ever had to put up with this?
Atletico Madrid launched another attack.
A midfielder passed the ball out to the wing, glanced at the players positioned in the middle, then sent in a cross.
Suárez saw that the