In the early hours of March 1, 2022, Atletico Madrid suffered a heavy defeat in the semifinals of the Spanish Copa del Rey, losing 0-3 to Bilbao. It also meant they missed out on qualifying for the final, while also setting a record of three humiliations.
First of all, this is the tenth year in a row that Atletico have failed to lift the trophy. Over the years, they have been fighting for various titles, but they have always failed to win the championship. The elimination of Real Madrid and Barcelona gave Atletico Madrid fans hope of winning the title, however, they were completely defeated by Bilbao.
In the game, Bilbao performed well, completely suppressing Atletico's attack. They broke the deadlock in the 10th minute by Hernandez and gave their opponents a slap in the face. Then, in the 29th minute of the game, Mikel Vesga scored again for Bilbao to extend the score to 2-0.
Atletico struggled to find chances in the second half of the game, but were held by the opposition defence. Finally, in the 52nd minute, Bilbao captain Iaki Williams scored another goal to seal the win.
The heavy defeat also gave Atletico a third humiliating record in which they failed to score any goals in this game. Atletico have always prided themselves on their attacking prowess, but in the clash with Bilbao, their attacking line looked lacklustre and ineffective.
It is worth noting that Atletico have only one competition left in the Champions League this season. However, they are up against Inter Milan, who are on a hot spot. Inter Milan have led the way in Serie A and have shown great strength. As a result, Atletico face a huge challenge.
For Atletico fans, this is undoubtedly a huge blow.
They had been expecting a Copa del Rey title and wanted to repeat their glory in the tournament. However, reality has dealt them a heavy blow. The team will need to quickly adjust their form and bounce back in the upcoming games.
Bilbao had to be admired for their excellent performance, and they showed great quality and teamwork in this game. Their victory also added a touch of lust to their quest for the Copa del Rey. I believe that they will show even more wonderful performances in the final.
For Atletico, the fiasco is both a warning and an opportunity. They need to learn from it, find their shortcomings and show their fighting spirit in the Champions League. They are still a strong team and can only get back to the top with consistent hard work and togetherness.
Atletico Madrid's crushing defeat in the Copa del Rey semi-finals left the team in a deep state of loss and frustration.
It was the tenth year in a row that they failed to win the Copa del Rey and a record that was enough to make the team and fans miserable. Even more frustrating is that they have shown some quality in the previous matches against Real Madrid and Barcelona, giving the team and fans a glimmer of hope of winning the title, but in the game against Bilbao, Atletico were completely suppressed by their opponents, and one bad game after another completely dashed their hopes.
Now, Atletico Madrid is left with only Champions League games to compete for the title. However, they are ahead of an extremely tough challenge against in-form Inter Milan. Inter Milan have been in excellent form in Serie A this season and are currently at the top of the table. With a strong squad and a stable tactical system, they have become a strong team that cannot be ignored. For Atletico, the game against Inter Milan will undoubtedly be a tough test.
Inter Milan have a dizzying array of attacking options, with the likes of Icardi, Martinez and Perisic in a powerful and well-connected combination that has caused a lot of problems for their opponents in the game.
And their midfielders such as Mertens and Brozovic can also play absolute control of the game, they can stabilize the midfield, organize the attack, and play well in key moments. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, will have to work harder and be fully prepared against such a formidable opponent in order to rise to the challenge.
The team's head coach, Simeone, took the game very seriously, he was aware of the strength of Inter Milan, but he also realized that the team had to break through to have a chance of competing for the title. In training, he asked his players to put their heart and soul into the game and do everything they could to win the crucial battle. He focused on the team's defense in his pre-match tactical set-up, hoping to defend well at the defensive end, block Inter's attacking lanes, and fight for goals by breaking the opponent's rhythm and launching powerful counter-attacks.
For the fans, this game is also a test.
They are the most loyal supporters of the team, and they always stand by the team and give them encouragement and support, no matter what difficulties and setbacks the team is facing. They will cheer for the team with all their strength during the game, hoping to inject more strength into the team through their shouting and inspiration.
The challenge facing Atletico Madrid is daunting and daunting, but they also know that backing down and giving up is never the answer. Only by putting their heart and soul into the game, maintaining unity and cooperation, will Atletico Madrid be able to overcome their opponents and compete for the Champions League. Regardless of the outcome of the match, the Atletico players and fans will be proud of the hard work and struggle they have put in. For Atletico Madrid, winning or losing, it is a valuable experience for them to learn from it, move on and build up energy for the games ahead.
Whether or not Atletico Madrid succeeds in the next matches, they will be a part of history.