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—Koke scores
—Messi equalises
—Messi scores (disallowed by VAR)
—Griezmann scores
—Pique scores (disallowed by VAR)All in the second half ? pic.twitter.com/tpgX88Bdld
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 9, 2020
Before all that though the announcement of each side’s starting XI attracted the usual smattering of calm and balanced reaction on social media.
Some Barca fans were besides themselves with joy as they saw the much-maligned Ivan Rakitic absent from the lineup. However, others were less impressed at the inclusion of Neto in goal… even though Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury left Ernesto Valverde with little choice in the matter.
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not seeing rakitic is always great af
— Club De Amigos? (@PrimeLionel_) January 9, 2020
??The first chance of the game came twenty minutes in, with Lionel Messi (who else) surging through the Atlético defence before firing a shot at goal.
Unluckily for La Pulga, Jan Oblak is quite a good goalkeeper and the Slovenian pulled off a great save to keep the scores level. Twitter was loving it!
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??Ten minutes later there was a string of controversial incidents with Thomas involved in a scuffle with some Barcelona players in the box, before VAR reviewed a potential handball.
The VAR confirmed something rather obvious – the Saudi Arabian crowd were supporting Barcelona, with a chorus of boos greeted the NO PENALTY decision.
Based on the crowd noise alone, it’s definitely a pro-Barça crowd here at the King Abdullah Sports City!! ??? ??
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 9, 2020
That was handball there, if var doesn’t give it we are lucky, else I didn’t see very well.
— Lavogez (@captainkoke) January 9, 2020
??The Oblak show resumed soon after with the big keeper making another incredible save – this time from Antoine Griezmann.
The Atlético stopper was out as quick as a flash to deny his former teammate, once again demonstrating his world class skill set.
Jan Oblak’s decision making and reaction time is unbelievably good.
In a split second he sees Griezmann’s touch is a little bit too big – he cuts down the angle perfectly and denies Griezmann’s chance.
His fundamentals are so good.
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) January 9, 2020
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Griezmann might be clinical, but Oblak played with him for years. Oblak knows all his tricks ?
— Colchoneros (@ElResurreccion) January 9, 2020
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Last fifteen minutes the best Barcelona played in over a month! Deserves to be leading, Oblak simply brilliant.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) January 9, 2020
As the teams departed for half time tempers flared with Joao Felix at the centre. Possibly the most notable thing he’d done all game up to that point…
Of course Luis Suarez got in on the act and received a yellow card for his trouble. At least the fistycuffs proved that this game was not a friendly.
Messi and Suarez fighting a kid uno
— Lukita (@ModricEsque) January 9, 2020
Joao FELIX???? WHO is Joao Felix in this game?
— mx (@LeooMessi10i) January 9, 2020
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João Félix trying to fight with Messi, the most ridiculous scene I have seen in a long time ?
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) January 9, 2020
Maybe this scrap fired up the Atlético players as just twenty seconds after the restart they took the lead.
Koke who had incredibly only just come on at half-time, slotted the ball past Neto to spark shocked reactions on social media.
1-0 Atletico – 20 seconds into second half. Beautifully worked right thru centre of Barca and sub Koke scores.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) January 9, 2020
Atletico Madrid scores just seconds after halftime with a Koke Goal! To go up 1-0 on Barcelona in The Spanish Super Cup ?? pic.twitter.com/l7MEHCQliF
— Football On Tap (@footballontap) January 9, 2020
??Their lead did not last long though… five minutes to be exact.
The scorer? Messi of course and his fans were out in full force on Twitter. There was GOAT emojis galore… and that was just the Barcelona’s official account!
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??The GOAT thought he had a second on the hour mark, only for his excellent finish to be ruled out for handball after a VAR check.
It was not a popular decision inside the stadium and on social media…
Minutes later though it was forgotten, with Griezmann nodding home a rebound after Oblak made a fantastic stop from Suarez’s header.
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VAR checks just kills the excitement after a scoring a goal. It’s like you have to put everything on pause…
— TalkFCB (@FCBNewsRoom) January 9, 2020
??Soon after VAR was at it again… ruling out a rare Gerard Piqué goal.
Cue further shouting on social media.
Barcelona fans were even more upset when Atlético levelled up the game completely against the run of play, with Alvaro Morata sliding home a penalty following some reckless goalkeeping from Neto.
GOAL!!!
Atletico are level again!
What a game here, Morata scores from the spot.
Alvaro Morata 82′Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid 82′
— Futaa.com (@Futaacom) January 9, 2020
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GOAL! Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid (Morata)
Morata steps up confidently and places the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, sending Neto the wrong way. We’re heading to extra-time if it stays like this. pic.twitter.com/RTQWLF9iqX— Lilian Chan (@bestgug) January 9, 2020
Cue MORE VAR madness as Gerard Piqué was somehow not penalised by the technology for a blatant handball.
Atlético might have felt aggrieved at the decision… had they not scored a third goal minutes later through Ángel Correa.
So the ball makes direct contact with Piques hand and it’s not a penalty but it hits Messi’s shoulder and it’s a foul? Okay
— DP. (@_dphd) January 9, 2020
Ahh Barca fans complaining about VAR when Piques clear handball wasn’t given as a pen
— Jay (@Jay_RMA) January 9, 2020
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This proves Angel Correa is the best Argentine #10 itw btw, idgaf
— Colchoneros (@ElResurreccion) January 9, 2020
And that’s how it ended… and what have we learnt? Nothing we didn’t already know really. Barcelona aren’t very good at defending and VAR is really controversial still.
Oh, and who could forget #ValverdeOut. What a time to be alive.
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For more from Matt O’Connor-Simpson, follow him on Twitter!
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