A sad game for the Sevillistas, Correa's 'goodbye' and the penalty of discord: "Barrios touches the ball"

Just 30 minutes after the intense quarterfinal match between Sevilla and Atlético de Madrid came to an end, the atmosphere in the press room was heavy with sadness. Quique Sánchez Flores, the Sevilla coach, entered with a solemn expression on his face, not for the missed opportunity on the field, but for a tragic event that had occurred. “I don’t feel like talking about football right now,” he said, his voice filled with grief.

The news of the death of Sevilla fans had shaken the team to its core. Quique took this press conference as an opportunity to extend his heartfelt condolences on behalf of the players, coaching staff, and leaders of Sevilla. “We have lost our beloved fans, and it deeply saddens us. Today, instead of focusing on the game, we find ourselves mourning the loss of those who came to support us. It is truly heartbreaking to play under these circumstances,” the coach expressed with a heavy heart.

Despite the sorrow that enveloped the stadium, the people of Seville honored the memory of the departed fans with a deeply respectful minute of silence. And then, they stood up bravely to face Atlético de Madrid, their arch-rivals who had just eliminated them from the round of 16 in a fierce battle. “Sevilla fought hard in this match. Their defense was solid, everything was well-organized,” commented Diego Simeone, the Atlético coach, after the game.

The match itself saw only a few scoring opportunities, with Antoine Griezmann being at the center of them all. He earned a penalty for Atlético, but unfortunately slipped during the crucial moment, failing to convert it. Later, he attempted a bicycle kick that almost found the back of the net. However, apart from these moments of excitement, the game remained largely uneventful.

Against all expectations, Simeone made some daring substitutions, bringing in Correa and Memphis. And it was these two players who ultimately scored the only goal of the match. For Memphis, it was his first goal against a top division team since August, showcasing his importance to the team. However, the game also marked a potential farewell for Ángel Correa, with rumors swirling around his departure from Atlético after nine seasons. Simeone expressed his love and admiration for Correa, stating that the team would support him in whatever decision he makes.

With this hard-fought victory, Atlético de Madrid secured their place among the top four teams in the Copa del Rey, alongside Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and Mallorca. Looking ahead, De Paul, an Atlético player, acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, stating that the next game would be difficult. He also credited the emotional boost they gained from their victory over Madrid.

The match did not come without controversy, as a potential penalty for Sevilla was overturned by VAR. The field referee initially called it a penalty, but after reviewing the footage, the decision was reversed due to a supposed touch of the ball by Barrios. Despite the disagreement, the match concluded, leaving Atlético in a strong position to compete for the Copa del Rey title, a tournament they haven’t won since 2013.