Lionel Messi might be FC Barcelona’s best player, but this time it was Luis Suarez who saved Los Blaugranas from what would have been their first defeat of the Liga campaign.
The Uruguayan striker netted the equaliser late in the second half with a towering header that allowed Barcelona to remain unbeaten after eight matches in the league campaign. Saul Niguez had previously scored the opener for Atletico Madrid with a beautiful curling effort in the first half. And while Los Blaugranas did not stop going forward until the very last minute, in the end both clubs settled for a 1-1 draw in this match played at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium this Saturday.
Atletico Stunned Los Blaugranas In The First Half
Barcelona started the game with a very positive attitude, and Atletico could not adjust properly. In fact, Barca generated the first chance only seconds after the whistle when Messi struck a shot that was blocked by a defender. But Los Colchoneros began to tame Barca’s attacking spirit, and the hosts slowly began to control the contest. Antoine Griezmann had two consecutive chances in the 8th and 9th minute, but his two shots went wide.
Barcelona did not rattle and continue to dominate the possession, but their lack of ideas in the final third cost them the first goal. On what seemed to be an isolated play given how the game was happening, Saul came out of nowhere to blast a beautiful curling shot past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. It was Saul’s first goal of the game, and it could not have come at a better time.
Barcelona tried to control the game after Atletico scored, but they lacked creativity in the final meters. Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Messi and Suarez all tested Jan Oblak, but their efforts were far from becoming a threat. As such, the first half came to a close with Atletico leading by one at the break. It was a surprising result since it would have meant Barca’s first defeat of the Liga campaign.
Barca changed their approach in the second half
Ernesto Valverde did not make any changes to the side in the beginning of the second half, but it is undeniable that Barcelona started the game with a more attacking approach. Messi began to show the same qualities that have made him the best player in the world over the past decade, and began to single-handedly change the game for Barca. The Argentina star came close to equalise in the 57th minute, but his free-kick attempt bounced off the post.
The entrances of Gerard Deulofeu and Sergi Roberto – replacing Andres Iniesta and Nelson Semedo, respectively – pushed the lines further forward for Los Blaugranas. And at that stage Atletico were playing with a negative, counter-attacking stance, as evidenced by the substitution of Thomas Partey replacing Yannick Carrasco. Diego Simeone’s men wanted to hold on to the result, but the strategy would backfire in the final minutes of the match.
Luis Suarez Saves The Day For FC Barcelona
Messi put Oblak on alert with another attempt in the 71st minute, and Suarez came close to score in the 80th minute. But the Slovenia international denied him again. At that point Oblak was one of the best players on the pitch, but he could not do anything when Suarez nodded the ball home in the 82nd minute. The Uruguayan star took advantage of a cross from Sergi Roberto to place a header inside the left post.
Suarez’s goal saved the day for Barcelona. It allowed Los Blaugranas to extend their undefeated run into eight games in La Liga, and they deservedly sit at the top of the standings with 22 points. They could have scored the winner during the final minutes, but their accuracy problems once again prevented them from securing an eighth-consecutive win.
Final Thoughts
The numbers do not lie in this case. Barcelona ended with a 69% of possession while edging their opponents goal attempts (15 to 5) and shots on target (seven to four), among other stats. But sometimes that is not enough. And Los Cules paid a steep price for not taking advantage of all the chances they created.
They remain at the top of the standings, but they must improve in future matches. Because they are not as good as they were defensively, and that could back to haunt them at some point during the Liga campaign.
Match Report
Atletico Madrid: Oblak (7); Juanfran (5), Savic (6), Godin (6), Filipe Luis (6); Koke (5), Gabi (5) (Fernando Torres (-), 83′), Saul (7), Carrasco (6) (Thomas (-), 73′); Correa (5) (Gaitan (5), 59′), Griezmann (6)
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen (6); Semedo (5) (Sergi Roberto (7), 61′), Pique (5), Umtiti (6), Jordi Alba (6); Andre Gomes (6), Rakitic (6) (Paulinho (-), 79′), Busquets (6), Iniesta (6) (Deulofeu (6), 61′); Messi (8), Suarez (7)
Goals: Saul (1-0, 21′), Suarez (1-1, 82′)
Referee: Antonio Mateu
Yellow Cards: Gabi (14′), Umtiti (33′), Rakitic (45+1′), Saul (90+2′), Griezmann (90+3′)
Red Cards: None
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