Despite the Win, Atletico Madrid's 2nd-Stringers Miss the Chance to Impress

In truth, Atletico Madrid's Copa del Rey clash with L'Hospitalet in Catalonia on Wednesday was always going to be the low-key affair it turned out to be. 

The Spanish cup competition is geared to favour the heavyweights, and Segunda B outfits simply can't complete with La Liga giants—even when the latter are without their primary talents.

Lamentable it may be, but there's a mundane predictability to it all at this early stage. 

Thus, a laboured and unmemorable 3-0 victory for Atletico—a scoreline that flattered the spectacle—transpired at Estadi La Feixa Llarga, where a wet night, a synthetic pitch and a sparse crowd only served to dampen things further. 

"L'Hospitalet were very solid and were set out well tactically in the first half," manager Diego Simeone said after the match, per Jamie Kemp of Inside Spanish Football, finding himself unable to offer anything more than generic statements after an encounter that took on a practice-match feel. "They made it uncomfortable for us and they have given a good account of themselves."

If he was at all impressed with Kiko Ramirez's men, he was likely underwhelmed with what he saw from his own. 

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Indeed, if Wednesday's clash was anything for Atletico, it was an opportunity for the club's second-stringers to impress, a chance for those who often sit on the sidelines to stake their claim for regular inclusion in the games that matter. 

Simeone, after all, is a shrewd and demanding figure. Such openings must be seized upon by those on the fringe when they arrive. 

In the lead-up to this match, the Argentine made clear what the cup outing meant for those who would take part. 

"Tomorrow the players have the opportunity to show what they've got," he said on Tuesday, per Inside Spanish Football. "I don't have commitment to anyone, what they do on the field decides their place in the team."

The most strong-willed of characters, the manager was unambiguous in his message: It's your job to earn my unwavering trust.  

Among those afforded the opportunity to do so against L'Hospitalet were striker Raul Jimenez, wingers Alessio Cerci and Cristian Rodriguez, full-back Jesus Gamez, central defender Lucas Hernandez and goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Even Guilherme Siqueira, Mario Suarez and Saul Niguez—players who've enjoyed meaningful minutes this season, albeit interspersed—could have considered themselves on trial, given that they all sit behind others in the pecking order for their respective positions. 

But as they leave Catalonia to return to Madrid, few in that bunch will feel they laid down a marker. 

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

In attack, there was a disconnect apparent between Jimenez, Cerci and Rodriguez, an issue not helped by rust and each man's desire to individually impress.

Such a situation left an industrious but creatively limited midfield with little to work with, as moves forward petered out tamely all too often. 

While Rodriguez landed a late strike and Cerci went close a couple of times, neither sustained the sort of impact you'd expect against a third-tier opponent. Much the same could be said for Gamez and Siqueira, who, despite the lowly opposition, couldn't replicate the barnstorming exploits seen from Juanfran and Cristian Ansaldi in recent weeks. 

It took the introduction of marquee signing Antoine Griezmann to change the dynamic.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Indeed, within minutes of the Frenchman's insertion into the lineup, everything sharpened up for Atletico: The passing became crisp, the attacking sequences gathered pace, the positional interchanges were fluid and the team's collective demeanour became considerably more aggressive.

His presence was like a bucket of icy water poured over a tipsy worker sleepily making his or her way home after Friday night drinks. 

"With the arrival of Griezmann, the team grew and all the players gave more," Simeone acknowledged after the game, per Kemp. 

For the former Real Sociedad star, it's indicative of his talent that he was able to drag his side out of their first-half malaise. Yet, by needing that to be done for them, Atletico's second-stringers did little to show they can command Simeone's unwavering trust. 

A win was achieved, but for many, it was an opportunity missed.