Even after falling to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, across two knotty legs that could only be separated via Wednesday's penalty shootout, it seems no less clear today that Inter is a considerably better team than the Spaniards. There's a reason why the Nerazzuri, last season's UCL runners-up, are at present cruising to the Serie A title while the Rojiblancos cling for dear life to the fourth spot in La Liga's table. But knockout soccer is different than league play, the former of which asks fewer and more difficult questions of its contestants than the latter. Ingenuity is always the best solution to those sorts of problems. Despite Inter's advantage in overall talent, cohesiveness, and form, Atlético is the team with the deeper reserves of genius, and as is so often the case, genius carried the day.
Several excellent players took the field in Madrid on Wednesday, and the majority of them were dressed in Inter's colors. Nevertheless, there is only one true genius between the two rosters, and he plays for Atleti. Antoine Griezmann and the brilliance that flows unstintingly from his feet are the chief factors that gave Atlético a genuine chance to upset its superior rival. The Frenchman didn't disappoint.
