2023-09-16 21:39:07
Supported in particular by its last minute recruits João Félix and João Cancelo, already nicknamed “the Joãos”, FC Barcelona has finally won over to offer itself a fourth consecutive victory in La Liga.
On loan from Atlético Madrid, João Félix was decisive for his first start with Barça, “the club of his dreams”, first opening the score in two stages (25th), then letting the ball slip between his legs to Lewandowski (32nd), scorer for the third match in a row.
“I’m very happy to play again, I feel really good. It’s easy to play in this team” declared the ex-Golden Boy, recruited for 120 million euros by Atlético, at the microphone of Movistar. “When you have a good system of play and you circulate the ball quickly, it leads to spaces and therefore goals” he added.
Efficient, the Catalans widened the gap a little further after returning from the locker room thanks to Ferran Torres on a direct free kick which went around the Andalusian wall (62nd), before Raphinha, who had just come into play, joined in the party and places an unstoppable shot from the left into the small net (66th).
João Cancelo, also arriving in the last minutes of the transfer window and omnipresent since the start of the match, performed a little number on his right side to score the fifth goal (81st) with a cross shot whose rebound deceived the goalkeeper opponent.
With this fourth success in five days, and the most convincing performance since the start of the season, Xavi’s men take the lead in the championship ahead of Real Madrid, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday (9:00 p.m.). They are also preparing in the best possible way for their Champions League debut on Tuesday against Antwerp (9:00 p.m.).
Atlético unrecognizable in Valencia
Quite the opposite of Atlético Madrid, who experienced a nightmare afternoon at Mestalla. The Colchoneros, who had not played for three weeks in La Liga after their match postponed against Sevilla due to bad weather and the international break, were beaten fairly by Valencia (3-0).
With this first defeat of the season and its late match, Atlético falls to 7th place in the standings, and lets its competitors slip away in the title race.
“It’s the weakest match since I’ve been at Atlético” summed up Diego Simeone. “We must congratulate our opponent, who was simply better.”
On the field, his men were unable to respond to the intensity imposed by the Valencians. Atlético conceded a first goal from Spanish No.9 Hugo Duro in the 5th minute of play, before the latter scored twice on the counter (34th).
Already deprived of his two starting midfielders Koke and Rodrigo De Paul, Diego Simeone lost Thomas Lemar, who fell badly on an aerial ball and was taken out on a stretcher to the applause of Mestalla. According to the Madrid club, the French international suffers from a “serious injury to the achilles tendon”, pending more complete examinations.
In the second half, Spanish international hopeful Javi Guerra buried any hope of a comeback for Antoine Griezmann and his teammates with a curling shot from the right at the edge of the area (54th).
The Madrilenians must get back together to best prepare for two already crucial meetings for the rest of the season: the first Champions League group match against Lazio on Tuesday and the derby against Real on Sunday.
For its part, Valencia, which has the youngest squad in La Liga, takes fifth place with nine points in five games.
In the first two matches of the day, Rayo Vallecano returned to success at home on Friday evening against Alavés (2-0) and Athletic Bilbao easily beat Cádiz (3-0), Saturday afternoon, to s ‘installed in second place in the ranking.
The day continues on Sunday with the clash of this fifth day between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad (9:00 p.m.).
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