FC Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid Game Review
Photo Credit: Getty Images
It was a much more positive result this past Sunday for F.C Barcelona, after dropping two points against their town rivals Espanol. Barcelona got back to winning ways in a 1-0 contest against Atletico Madrid. The win allows F.C Barcelona to go three points clear at the top of the La Liga table after Real Madrid lost to Villareal 2-1.
On Sunday, however, it was Ousmane Dembele’s lone strike in the twenty-second minute that gave F.C Barcelona the lead and the victory after all was played. After receiving the news of Robert Lewandowski’s suspension length, Xavi (F.C Barcelona coach) surprised a few people with a system change. Instead of playing their usual 4-3-3 formation, they set up in more of a 3-4-3 lineup, with Ansu Fati, Dembele, and Gavi playing just behind those two.
Photo Credit: SkySports
While Barca had most of their usual possession of the ball, 59 percent compared to Atletico Madrid’s 41 percent, Atletico Madrid outshot them with more shots on goal (5-2). They also doubled their total shots (20-10), and if it wasn’t for Ronald Araujo’s goal-line clearance in the dying moments of the game, this game would have most likely ended up being a 1-1 draw.
This marks Barcelona’s 12th clean sheet on the season out of the 16 league games they have played, and they have allowed the fewest goals (six) in all of Europe’s top five leagues. An impressive mark for this team that was struggling to make the top four at this point last year.
Atletico Madrid missed a big chance in this game to make it back into the top four if they had won this game. Currently, they still sit one point behind Real Betis in fifth place and are tied now with Villareal at 27 points after their big win against the current champions, Real Madrid.
Barca will now play today against Real Betis in the first semi-final draw of the Spanish Super Cup, while Atletico Madrid looks to bounce back next Sunday on the road against the 14th-placed UD Almeria.
