ReutersBarcelona easily won 3-0 against Atletico Madrid.
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 23:21
FC Barcelona won the top match against Atlético Madrid with remarkable ease. Barcelona didn’t even play very well in the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, but won 3-0.
The victory makes Barcelona the best club in Catalonia again. Girona lost 1-0 to Getafe on Saturday and is now third, two points behind Barcelona.
The difference with leader Real Madrid, which won 4-2 against Osasuna in Pamplona on Saturday, is still significant: eight points.
NOSDe stand in La Liga.
Barcelona and Atlético played in Madrid on Sunday evening in excellent spirits. Barcelona qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to a 3-1 win over Napoli.
A day later, Memphis Depay was the big man for Atlético Madrid against Internazionale, first forcing extra time with a late goal and then scoring a hard shot in the penalty shootout that won.
Depay on the couch
Depay nevertheless had to sit on the bench again against Barcelona. Looking to the side, he saw the faces of captain Koke and playmaker Antoine Griezmann, neither fit enough to start.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez also had reason for concern. Gavi, Pedri, Baldé and Frenkie de Jong have been injured for a while and Andreas Christensen and João Cancelo were also added shortly before the match.
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Pro Shots
Héctor Fort, the 17-year-old replacement for the injured João Cancelo.
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Pro Shots
Andreas Christensen (back) was injured in the warm-up, his replacement was Fermin Lopez.
To replace the Portuguese left back, Xavi once again opted for a teenager: 17-year-old Héctor Fort stood next to peer Pau Cubarsi in defense. This time, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal remained on the bench.
Chess game
The home team dominated the opening phase, but the match soon degenerated into a slow game of chess, where the possibilities could be counted on one hand.
After half an hour, Barcelona suddenly came out of their shell and actually had opportunities through Raphinha (header) and Fermin Lopez (at the feet of goalkeeper Jan Oblak.)
ReutersJoão Félix scores for Barcelona against the club that rented him out, Atlético Madrid.
The third chance was a success: João Félix – who is on loan from Atlético to Barcelona – was flawlessly found in front of the goal by Robert Lewandowski and the Portuguese subtly pushed the ball into the far corner.
Despite the lead, Barcelona coach Xavi was sent to the stands shortly afterwards. The coach did not agree with a free kick that was not given, gave vent to his frustrations and was sent off with two yellow cards.
The hot-tempered coach, who has already announced his departure from Barcelona, was previously sent to the stands in the away match against Getafe.
ReutersXavi Hernández gets two yellow cards in a short time against Atlético Madrid and has to leave.
Brother Óscar Hernández already knew what he had to do, as a temporary replacement along the line. The elder Hernández’s first task was to come up with a solution to neutralize Depay and Griezmann, as both made their entrance.
Before they could make their mark, the 2-0 was already in the net. De Paul lost the ball in midfield and Lewandowski scored from the turn.
Atlético did not give up and forced goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen to make two fantastic saves on a Marcos Llorente shot and Depay’s rebound.
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Reuters
Robert Lewandowski made his thirteenth of the competition.
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Fermin Lopez celebrates the 3-0 against Atlético.
When Fermin López, who also scored accurately against Napoli in midweek, headed in the 3-0, Atlético’s resistance was broken.
In injury time it also seemed to be 4-0, when Brazilian substitute Vitor Roque was only allowed to approach goalkeeper Oblak. However, he was stopped by Nahuel Molina. Atlético even ended up with ten men, because the Argentine world champion was sent off the field.
Champions League
Due to the defeat, Atlético Madrid remains in fifth place and still has to work to play in the Champions League again.
Barcelona will face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in mid-April. Atlético Madrid meets PSV conqueror Borussia Dortmund.
Real Madrid is also competing for the highest prize in Europe. They do have a formidable opponent in Manchester City.