Match report: Atlético impress in first clash with Barcelona | OneFootball

A home defeat, the second of the league season after the loss to Betis, in the first of the three clashes Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona will face this April. It was the least important match for the rojiblancos, whereas the Catalans had a lot at stake in the league, especially after Madrid’s defeat in Mallorca.

The result could easily have been different, with chances for Atleti in the first half and baffling misses from Griezmann that could have put our side ahead long before Giuliano Simeone scored in the 38th minute, breaking into space, getting in brilliantly behind the defense, and finishing superbly.

It was the first goal of the match, although Barça also had chances through Lamine Yamal, including one off the post, while Griezmann had also missed two opportunities of his own, one after nutmegging Cubarsí in the 11th minute and another from a Baena pass in the 29th, unable to finish properly at the far post.

The match was highly entertaining and became even more dramatic after Rashford scored in the 42nd minute, following a burst forward and a one-two with Dani Olmo, beating Musso with the ball slipping through the Argentine goalkeeper’s legs.

But things heated up in the final minutes of the first half. First there was a small scuffle, and then a clear sending-off for Nico González after a challenge on Lamine Yamal that was very nearly a penalty. Nico had already been booked after a rather needless yellow card for stopping a Barça counterattack. In the challenge on Yamal, a second yellow was initially shown, but after a VAR review, it was changed to a straight red.

ATLÉTICO SHOWED A GOOD SIDE IN THE SECOND HALF WITH TEN MEN

The controversy arrived very early in the second half. Right after the restart, Gerard Martín, going for a loose ball, planted his studs into Almada’s ankle and the referee showed a red card. But surprisingly VAR intervened, in a play that was not a clear and obvious error, and changed the color of the card, which altered the course of what happened in the second half.

The challenge could have injured the Argentine, but in the end Barça stayed with eleven on the pitch, and that led to blaugrana dominance and rojiblanco counterattacking attempts.

That led Yamal to repeatedly try to dribble, look for shots on goal, combine with overlapping teammates down the wing, and search for finishes from crosses.

Atlético defended well, and with the physical toll mounting, first-team debuts were handed to Javi Moriclo and Taufik, who both did a great job, trying to give the starters some rest with the Champions League in mind.

In the end, the wall fell in the 87th minute. Cancelo fired on goal, Musso pushed the ball away, but unfortunately the rebound fell to Lewandoski, who barely touched it, almost by accident, but still sent the ball into the net.

Defeat in the first clash, but with good feelings ahead of the other two meetings still to come, which are the two that truly matter for our interests.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.