Atletico Madrid landed a relatively stunning however definitely very important victory for his or her La Liga title aspirations on Saturday night, beating rivals Barcelona on the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in a most surprising vogue.
Barcelona’s first-half domination culminated with Pedri breaking the impasse within the thirtieth minute, however Rodrigo De Paul equalized on the hour mark. The true shock occurred within the sixth minute of stoppage time although, when Atletico substitute Alexander Sorloth scored to grab all three factors for the guests.
The groups
Barcelona sorely miss 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, absent by an ankle harm. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a long-term absentee. Marc Bernal and Andreas Christensen have been unavailable as properly.
Inaki Pena was in objective for the Catalans. Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi paired up the center of defence, flanked by Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde. Pedri joined Marc Casado in the midst of the park, whereas Gavi performed in a barely extra superior position, serving to Raphinha and Fermin Lopez in supporting striker Robert Lewandowski from huge positions.
As for Atletico, they’re in a a lot better state of affairs injury-wise. Ahead Marcos Paulo, who has returned early from his mortgage at Belgian aspect RWD Molenbeek attributable to an ACL tear, is the one identify on the listing of absentees.
With Jan Oblak in objective, Javi Galan and Marcos Llorente flanked centre-backs Jose Gimenez and former Barcelona man Clement Lenglet. De Paul and Pablo Barrios have been tasked with the arduous work in the midst of the park, with Giuliano Simeone and Conor Gallagher in wider roles. Antoine Griezmann, additionally as soon as a Barcelona participant, was joined by Julian Alvarez in assault.
The sport recap
Within the first half, Barcelona established themselves because the dominant staff on the pitch, preserving the ball within the opposition half with ease and forcing the guests to focus solely on defending. Alvarez and Griezmann have been there however completely invisible, utterly reduce off from the sport itself.
In the meantime, Raphinha, who shone for Barcelona all through the sport, had the primary actual likelihood of the sport after 5 minutes as he hit one low from the proper flank, however his shot was blocked by Gallagher. Inigo Martinez was the subsequent to threaten Oblak critically with a strong volley, however the Slovenian ‘keeper was well-positioned. Certainly one of a variety of positive crosses from Raphinha discovered an unmarked Gavi within the air within the twenty fifth minute, however the younger midfielder headed simply huge.
However luck lastly smiled on the dwelling aspect within the thirtieth minute, and so they clearly deserved it. Pedri picked the ball up on the left and performed it to Gavi on the sting of the field. Gavi truly failed to regulate it correctly, nevertheless it labored out completely for Pedri who took it in his stride and fired low in the direction of the far submit. The shot picked up a slight deflection off Llorente who slid in to try to block it, and the change of route, as minimal because it was, took it simply out of Oblak’s attain and into the underside nook.
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Having taken the lead, Barcelona barely relaxed the strain on the Rojiblancos, although they nonetheless stored the entire move of the sport underneath management for the remainder of the half and it appeared they have been on their strategy to a simpler victory than they could’ve anticipated. All Atletico might do was to remain within the recreation, however keep they did.
Lower than three minutes after the break, Fermin Lopez had a terrific likelihood to double Barcelona’s lead and had he executed so, the result of the match would most likely have been completely different. Gimenez’s poor go in his personal half was intercepted by Raphinha, who performed it shortly to Pedri and the goalscorer prolonged it into Lopez’s path on the left. The 21-year-old was by with solely Oblak forward, however making an attempt to get his shot off as shortly as potential, he misplaced his footing and Oblak was in a position to make a positive save.
Pedri threatened once more within the fifty fifth minute, however his shot went over the bar, and two minutes later, Raphinha and Lewandowski every missed a terrific alternative to extend Barcelona’s lead. Pedri produced a wonderful go to launch Raphinha in behind, and the Brazilian winger poked it over the onrushing Oblak, hitting the crossbar. Lewandowski was fast to react and tried to fireside it in, however Axel Witsel, who had changed Gimenez a couple of minutes earlier than, blocked the shot.
After which got here minute 60, and with it, the primary signal of attacking intent from Atletico. It was De Paul who began it with a stunning go down the left flank for Alvarez. The previous Manchester Metropolis ahead put it low into the field, and Casado reacted just a little thoughtlessly, back-heeling it away from the objective and out of the field – and straight into the trail of De Paul who hit it first-time, low and precisely, to equalize.
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Fifteen minutes later, Barcelona got here as shut as potential to getting again forward, nevertheless it wasn’t to be. Raphinha’s go to the left flank discovered substitute Ferran Torres unmarked, and Torres pulled it again for Lewandowski at six yards, however in an especially uncharacteristic vogue, the Polish striker mishit the ball and allowed Oblak to select it up.
However heartened by De Paul’s equalizer, Atletico have been now up for the sport and so they began threatening on the different finish as properly. Simply two minutes after Lewandowski’s embarrassment, Alvarez had a terrific likelihood to show the rating utterly round, however Pena made a superb save.
Because the match approached its finish, Barcelona step by step elevated the strain on the guests seeking a winner. One other substitute, Dani Olmo, labored up a pleasant likelihood for himself within the 81st minute, however his shot from shut vary trickled huge. Pedri created one other one for Raphinha within the 86th, however Oblak closed the angle down and made a straightforward save. Then it was Olmo’s flip to create for Pedri, however Oblak was as much as the duty once more.
Atletico have been once more having issues getting out of their half, however within the 96th minute, as Barcelona’s energy wavered for an on the spot, De Paul picked the ball up close to the midway line huge on the proper. Balde was clearly too drained to trace the run of a a lot more energizing Atletico substitute Nahuel Molina, and Molina’s low cross discovered Sorloth, yet one more one who had come off the bench, unmarked within the field. Sorloth fired powerfully and left Pena unable to do something about it, successful the sport for Atletico utterly towards the run of play.
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The aftermath
Barcelona have at all times been generally known as a membership that commonly produces implausible gamers – La Masia is justly well-known for it. Nonetheless, Diego Simeone’s aspect is extraordinarily skilled, consisting of gamers who know tips on how to win video games towards extra gifted opponents, and whose focus hardly ever falters earlier than the ultimate whistle.
And with that in thoughts, regardless that they’d solely 37% of possession on this recreation and appeared inferior for probably the most of its course, they arguably deserved their win, if just for that skill to stay tactically disciplined and battle to the top.
Be that as it might, Atletico have now damaged atop of the La Liga desk with 41 factors, three greater than Barcelona in second place, although Actual Madrid could transfer above the Catalans in the event that they beat Sevilla on the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Moreover, each Atletico and Actual have a recreation in hand on Barcelona, and Hansi Flick should discover a means to assist his staff snap out of this bout of poor kind.
Barcelona have taken simply 5 factors from their final seven matches within the Spanish high flight.
