Guinea pigs

Freud

Poll looked like a man who has come to terms with himself. He would not let himself get overwrought again. He would take it easy and observe the game as if he wasn't a part of it, yet he wouldn't miss a thing. He knew this was a difficult match, what with two hot-headed teams full on the attack and determined to win, but he was going to keep his cool and show the world he was one of the best out there.

Quite well

And Poll really did quite well. He did feel like he had to explain his every decision to the players concerned. He did suddenly show five yellows in a row, of which one was really questionable. He did see more than was actually happening. But he also managed to establish some form of authority which made the players think twice before doing anything rash.

So-so

In the end though, there were too many so-so decisions to my taste. Like the free kick he gave - after some thinking - for an assumed foul by Seville's Renato on Corrales, where Renato seemed to just try to control a hard pass with the chest while Corrales was all over him. Poll looked like he was overly aware of all the people watching over his shoulder and judging him. He knew this was the match where he could prove himself, rehabilitate himself, and that made him do things that may not have been entirely what he would have done otherwise. Hence the five consecutive bookings after 75 minutes of cardless play. I would like to see Poll again in less tense circumstances.