Atlético de Madrid suffered a hard blow in their match against Celta de Vigo at the Metropolitano. Just six minutes into the game, Pablo Barrios was sent off for a tackle on Pablo Durán, leaving the colchoneros with ten players for almost the entire match.
Simeone's team held on with enormous effort and managed to salvage a 1-1 draw, but the red card to the young midfielder sparked an intense debate on Tiempo de Juego. One of the most outspoken in his analysis was Gonzalo Miró, who had no doubts in stating that the expulsion was fair and that Pablo Barrios must learn.
Gonzalo Miró, Firm: "This Is a Red Card"
During the broadcast of the match, Miró left no room for doubt and delivered a clear message about Pablo Barrios's action. "Paco, honestly, don't sugarcoat it, this is a red card. For me, it's a red card. This is a mistake by Barrios that he repeats over and over. Because it's not the first time the kid does this.
"What he has to think is that when he loses a ball, he can't go in with his studs half a meter off the ground." Miró also recalled that this is not the first time Barrios has committed a similar action, mentioning his recent expulsion in the Champions League.
"Ten years ago, many things happened that don't happen now. But today, this is a red card. And besides, he has to know it because he was sent off in Champions 10 days ago. That's true."
Divided Opinions on COPE: Fair Red or Too Harsh?
Gonzalo Miró's words were direct, but not all the commentators on Tiempo de Juego shared exactly the same view. On one hand, José Antonio Martín Otín 'Petón' was also blunt in his analysis. "He has to measure it, with the ball in front or without the ball, we already know that if the action extends with the studs to the leg, it can mean a red card."
However, Paco González, with a somewhat more moderate approach, pointed to the evolution of refereeing in recent years. "To not upset the listener who just gave their opinion... In another soccer, this was a yellow because it's a ball dispute. The guy goes over the ball and ends up going very high. In this soccer..."
An Error That Marked the Match
Beyond the debate, the truth is that Pablo Barrios's early expulsion completely conditioned the match. Atlético de Madrid, which had started with an offensive line-up with Griezmann, Julián Álvarez, and Giuliano Simeone, had to change their approach and focus on holding on with one less player.