Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone names Barcelona the best team in La Liga: ‘Playing a different sport’ | OneFootball

Diego Simeone has offered a striking assessment of Barcelona’s start to the 2026/27 season, admitting Hansi Flick’s side currently looks as though they are playing a different sport to everyone else.

Barcelona have made a perfect start to their La Liga campaign, winning all seven matches and collecting 21 points. Their attacking numbers have been even more eye-catching, with 31 goals scored across those fixtures.

That figure shows the best seven-game start in Barcelona’s history and has made Flick’s team the early benchmark in Spain. 

Only Sevilla, who scored 40 goals in their opening seven matches in the 1940/41 campaign, have ever managed a higher total at this stage of La Liga.

Simeone stunned by Barcelona’s attacking level

Simeone was asked about Barcelona after Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the season’s first Madrid derby, and his assessment was emphatic.

Simeone has nothing but praise for Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“It looks like Barcelona is playing a different sport from the one we’re playing. 

“They didn’t have a number 9 striker, then Raphinha showed up and scored 12 goals,” he said, as per ESPN.

Raphinha’s contribution has been central to Barcelona’s attacking output, although the winger’s three-goal performance in Seville was what took the team’s league tally to 31.

The Brazilian has operated as a central forward under Flick, giving Barcelona another way to attack without relying on a traditional number nine.

Lamine Yamal adds another dimension

Simeone also highlighted Lamine Yamal, whose influence has continued to grow alongside Raphinha.

Raphinha has been central to Barcelona’s early season success. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

“And Yamal, if I’m not mistaken, scored 7. They press you in your own stadium and steal your time, and they don’t fear taking risks and conceding a goal.”

That aggressive approach has been a defining feature of Flick’s Barcelona. 

Furthermore, the Atletico coach ultimately left little doubt about his view of Barcelona’s current position.

“It seems like their way of receiving a goal makes them better. They’re the best right now,” he noted.

That is quite an admission from a manager who has just overseen a derby victory against Real Madrid. Atletico’s win may have strengthened their position, but Simeone’s comments explain the scale of Barcelona’s start.