Barcelona are sixteen points ahead of Atletico Madrid and they can extend their lead in La Liga above Real Madrid to seven points. Alex Baena and gaffer’s son Guliano Simeone are the wingers for Atletico Madrid. Three games in ten days for this match up. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are fit to make the bench this game, which is a bonus for La Blaugrana.
Olmo is actually playing as a false nine with Rashford on the left and Lamine Yamal on the right hand side. Barca defend with their typical high press when they lose the ball, as they had the chance in the second minute to score, with Lamine Yamal stiking the ball which was blocked by Nico Gonzalez. Barca’s aim is to control the game as Atletico will be hard to break down in the 4-4-2 block.
There are many who have played for both Atletico and Barca which include players like Antoine Griezmann and Clement Lenglet who start for Los Rojiblancos today. Juan Musso, the Argentine shot-stopper was not disturbed by the free-kick by Rashford which was tame. One drawback of having Ronald Araujo in the right-back position is that he rarely goes forward which may leave Lamine Yamal against two defenders. Also, Barca defend with a 4-5-1 formation. In the eleventh minute, Antoine Griezmann had a chance to score, and like Rashford’s free-kick, it was tame and did not worry Joan Garcia. A minute later, Fermin had a chance due to a good pass from Yamal and nearly scored. He could have found Rashford to tee him up one-on-one. Barca have been the better team in the first fifteen minutes of the game, with Yamal playing some nice passes, and Fermin having few chances to score.
The 4-5-1 becomes a 4-2-3-1 sometimes when Barca are defending as they try to compact the space so that Atletico move the ball out wide. Lewandowski is on the bench after his mid-week heartbreak of not qualifiying for the World Cup in North America. It seems that Cancelo is playing like a traditional full back while Ronald Araujo plays as an additional third centre-back. While Atletico goes long, Joan Garcia acts like a sweeper keeper as he’s quick to come off his line. Griezmann had a great chance to give Los Rojiblancos the lead in the twenty-eighth minute, but hit it wide of the mark and was unable to convert.
Some beautiful interplay in the thirty-fifth minute by Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo led to an opportunity for Lamine Yamal who hit the post. And Barca were made to pay for their missed chances as Atletico undid them with one long ball by Clement Lenglet which found Guliano Simeone. 1-0 Atletico.
Hansi Flick made a substitution, taking off Ronald Araujo and bringing on Marc Bernal.
However, Madrid’s lead did not last long, as Rashford after good interplay with Dani Olmo puts the ball through the legs of Juan Musso. 1-1 for La Blaugrana. It was his first goal since January.
After an altercation in which the Barca and Atletico players stopped playing, the ref awarded yellow cards to some Atletico and Barca players.
In the forty-eighth minute (the third minute of first half added time), Nico Gonzalez was sent off after a rash challenge on Lamine Yamal as he obtained a second yellow card. VAR though, had a look to see whether Lamine Yamal was offside as it would mean that the red card would be rescinded. Instead the referee gave a straight red card for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO)
First half 1-1.
At the start of the first half, to handle Yamal, another defender Ruggeri was substituted on.
AND THE REFEREE SHOWS A RED CARD!!!
In the forty-sixth minute, just after the restart, Gerard Martin with a late challenge gets sent off as his studs were up after a dangerous tackle.
The ref rescinded the red card which in my opinion is a wrong decision as the player makes a reckless challenge. It was fortuitous for Barcelona as they should have been down to 10 men.
Because of this decision, Barca had the upper hand in the opening phases of the second half, as Atletico goes long. The introduction of Sorloth will add a target forward who can hold up the ball. Barca pile on pressure looking for the leading goal. It also means Barca can suffocate Atletico in the press.
Jose Maria Gimenez, Murcillo and Sorloth came on for fresh legs in the sixtieth minute.
Barca kept piling on the presssure, gettinng more opportunities and forcing more corners until Ferran Torres’ effort was saved by Musso. In the seventieth minute is was Ferran vs Musso round 2, with the goalie also prevailing in this encounter with a brilliant save to his right hand side.
After their red card, Atletico defend with a 4-4-1, with Taufik making his debut and being slotted into the midfield.
It’s been all Barca so far, with La Blaugrana churning out chance after chance looking for the second goal that will give them the win in this game.
Gavi and Lewandowski were brought on in the seventy eighth minute looking for that crucial goal as Barca continue their dominance.
Atletico have really defended well in the second period with Jose Maria Gimenez making a last-ditch tackle which was almost a certain Barcelona goal.
Because of their defending, I would say that 1-1 would have been a fair result for both teams.
However, Barca were going to get that elusive second goal, as a Joao Cancelo shot rebounds off Musso and finds Robert Lewandowski, who put it past the hapless Argentine goalkeeper to hand the three points to Barca.
In my opinion, the game would have been fair as a draw. The yellow card for Martin should have been a red, and that would have changed things for Atletico as they may or may not have sat back for a draw. However, Barca had to beat what was in front of them, and whether by hook or by crook, they managed to get a win.
Hopefully the Champions League fixture proves exciting as this match-up occurs three times in ten days. Anyways, Barca get the win in this tie.
Ore M. 
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