06/18/2024 at 07:00
CEST
The entire Córdoba dreams of returning to the Second Division five years later. A city of 325,000 inhabitants totally dedicated to its team and that expects Barça Atlètic to go through hell this Sunday starting at 8:00 p.m. in the Nuevo Arcángel.
A hell both environmentally and meteorologically, since temperatures that will exceed 40 degrees Celsius are expected during the day. (maximum 41ºC) and that they will barely drop at game time, since the forecast is 38 degrees at 8:00 p.m.
To all this we must add the ambient heat. There has been tension with FC Barcelona since the moment the green and white club only received 150 tickets for the first leg of the final at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. The green and white club got angry and responded with the same coin for the return, in addition to prohibiting Barça symbols outside the visitor zone.
Johan’s game did not help much to calm the referees either. It is difficult to reach an agreement between two fans with an arbitration and the Aragonese Ramo Andrés ‘did it’. Rafa Márquez attacked his performance in the television flashcomplained about his permissiveness with the Andalusian team’s fouls and their waste of time, although he ‘bit his tongue’ in the subsequent press conference.
Córdoba, for its part, bitterly regretted that he interrupted the play when Antonio Casas faced Marc Vidal, although what happened is that the referee asked the Barça player Pelayo to serve from further back than where he was going to do it, so the action was not in play.
They also claimed a hard tackle by ‘Pocho’ Román as a red card, who was ultimately the scorer of the tying goal.
In the Johan Cruyff press room, the Blanquiverdes coach, Iván Ania, was bothered by a question about whether the ‘tricks’ would be repeated in the New Arcángel. “If you think this, you have never seen Córdoba play”snapped the Asturian.
Test by fire… and maturity
Be that as it may, within Barça Atlètic they are aware that they will encounter a very hostile environment that they will have to overcome. It will be a challenge for such a young team and an exercise in maturity to ensure that everything surrounding the game does not affect them. Neither the references to the ‘Negreira case’, nor the debate on whether it is ethical for subsidiaries to play in the category… nor many other issues that will try to undermine the morale of the Blaugranas.
In the semi-final against Ponferradina, Nuevo Arcángel presented a phenomenal attendance of 21,245 spectators that could even be surpassed this Sunday. Everything has been sold for 5 days now and the subscriber’s response will do the rest. There will be a reception, ‘meetings’ and a city prepared to experience the ascent on the night of San Juan. Only Barça Atlètic can spoil their party.
