Headline: Atletico Madrid’s Alex Baena Reflects on Defeat to Barcelona and Missed Chances
Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena expressed that his team suffered due to a drop in intensity during the second half of their recent 2-1 defeat against Barcelona at the Metropolitano Stadium. The Spanish international noted that while Diego Simeone’s squad matched Barcelona in the first half, the Catalan side capitalized on any lapse in intensity, ultimately proving to be the decisive factor in the match.
Baena shared his frustration regarding Atletico’s inability to finish their chances, asserting that the team created sufficient opportunities to secure a more favorable outcome.
“We caused them a lot of trouble, but we weren’t clinical in front of goal. We played a very good match,” he stated, emphasizing that both teams could have emerged victorious. He added, “This is a long season – this is the path we need to follow.”
Atletico managed to create several promising opportunities against their opponents but struggled to convert those chances into goals. Baena acknowledged that while his team troubled Barcelona, their inefficiency in scoring kept them from capitalizing on their performance.
Baena highlighted that Atletico’s intensity waned in the second half, a shift that he identified as a primary reason for their diminished performance. He explained, “When you let Barça have more possession, they take control of the match. We didn’t give that 120% we’ve given in the first half, and when you drop to 100%, Barça dominate you.”
He reiterated the need for the team to maintain high levels of effort throughout the match, stating, “We’ll try to keep giving 120 per cent for the full 90 minutes because that’s where the team needs to improve.”
Barcelona demonstrated greater efficiency in key moments of the match, with Fermin Lopez scoring twice to secure the win. As Baena reflected on the match, he noted, “That was the difference: they had three or four chances and scored twice, whilst we had far too many and weren’t able to put one away. And that’s what happens when you can’t score.”
Despite the setback, Baena remains confident that Atletico can hold their own against Europe’s elite sides when they perform at their best. He remarked that the first half showcased their capability, saying, “If you watched the first half today, we were on the same level. That’s the improvement: if you drop to 100%, they’ll punish you. The difference lies in being able to maintain that 120%.”
