Barcelona have opened up a four-point gap at the top of the La Liga table thanks to a hard-fought 3-1 against Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou on Tuesday night. A fantastic game of football that had everything ended with three deserved points for the Blaugrana, who played their most complete match of the season against a heavyweight opponent and sent a strong statement in the title race.
Reactions & Observations
- Barça looked really, really good in the first half and played as well as they have all season with and without the ball considering the level of the opposition. The control of possession and the quality of the passing and movement was great, and the ability to recover the ball with their high pressing was noticeable.
- Even the opening goal by Álex Baena wasn’t a case of a bad offside trap and the high line being “exposed”: it was a long ball from Nahuel Molina from the back that found Baena just onside, and the Spanish international deserves the credit for a really good finish.
- Barça’s response to going behind was fantastic, and Pedri’s world-class assist combined with Raphinha’s composure to round the keeper and pass the ball into the net was a beautiful way to equalize.
- The Catalans should have gone into the break with the lead after a really good play by Dani Olmo to earn a penalty, but Robert Lewandowski’s miss from the spot is just inexplicable.
- Lewy had a chance to redeem himself right away thanks to a wonderful cross by Lamine Yamal, but Oblak made a truly world-class save to stop Barça from taking the lead.
- The only bad defensive moment came just before halftime on a poor decision by Balde that allowed Giuliano Simeone to get in behind, and Gerard Martín had to take one for the team and get a yellow card to stop Atlético from having a big chance.
- Barça continuted their good work to start the second half, and Yamal created a huge chance for Raphinha after an amazing solo run through four Atleti defenders, but the Brazilian had a poor miss.
- What a great finish by Olmo to find the corner with his left foot, and then he’s wildly unlucky to suffer a shoulder injury when landing. Still a huge goal to give Barça a deserved lead with 25 minutes to go.
- Pedri and Raphinha exit after 73 fantastic minutes as a duo. Big minutes for Dro Fernández and Marc Casadó to try and see this out.
- Thiago Almada with the chance of a lifetime to equalize for Atleti as he rounds the keeper, gets away from everyone else inside the box, and somehow misses the target completely with an open net in front of him. Incredible miss.
- Hansi Flick takes off Yamal for Andreas Christensen, moves Casadó to the number 10 spots, and decides to protect the lead in the final minutes. High line no more, time to seal the points.
- Brilliant play down the left and Alejandro Balde finds Ferran Torres inside the box to clinch the victory. Ferran with an angry celebration after all the criticism he’s received, and you love to see that passion.
- What a massive win, not just for the points, but because it was a true show of force. Barça were by far the better team and deserved the victory, and won a big game at home the right way. Well done, boys!
