Barcelona 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid played out a goalless draw at the Camp Nou on Saturday, a result which suited the visitors more than their hosts.
Atleti came into the game in the box seat, two points clear at the top, and that’s how they finished it. La Liga: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid was billed as a fixture to give a clear indication of the destination of the 2021 title, but with the points shared nothing has been settled. Barca head coach Ronald Koeman watched his side from the stands, having copped a touchline ban following his red card in Barca’s defeat to Granada last week. And he will have been frustrated to see his side spurn a golden chance to win the game at the death.
The Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid betting odds here at SBOTOP offered 3.54 on a draw and neither side can really complain at the result after a tense and evenly matched battle.
Highlights of the game
The league leaders made a strong start and Thomas Lemar tested Ter Stegen when he cut inside and unleashed a low shot, and then former Barca man Luis Suarez had a free-kick but he lifted his effort straight into the keeper’s hands. Atleti had a change to make though, with only 13 minutes on the clock when Lemar’s afternoon came to an abrupt end. The French midfielder had just returned from an injury lay off but he picked up a muscle injury and Diego Simeone took no chances, brining on Saul.
While Aleti had the early chances Barcelona dominated possession, passing the ball around at will while Los Rojiblancos seemed content to watch them. And the Madrid side continued to threaten when a goal bound shot from Angel Correa was stopped by a brilliant block from Clement Lenglet.
Former Atletico man Antoine Griezmann tried a speculative effort but Jan Oblak made an easy save. And Ter Stegen was the busier keeper, making a good save to deny a sweeping shot from Marco Llorente and then using his feet to block an effort from Suarez. As Atleti pressed Ter Stegen made another strong save from Correa and he reacted quickly to thwart Suarez’ follow up. But the closest either side came in the first half came when Messi glided past Saul and curled a beauty towards the top corner, only to see Oblak make a fingertip save.
In a lively start to the second half Messi put a dangerous cross in which Lenglet headed over, while Suarez sent a dipping shot just wide of Ter Stegen’s post. Messi began to pull the strings as he carved out chances for rookie midfielder Ilaix Moriba and Gerard Pique, but Atleti’s defence stood firm. And then the Argentinean fired in a free-kick which Oblak pushed around the post.
Los Rojiblancos’ keeper was alert again to keep Moriba at bay after Antoine Griezmann has slid a weighted ball through and, as both sides probed for a vital goal Pique went into the book for holding back Joao Felix; it was a yellow worth taking as the young Portuguese star was away.
With five minutes remaining Ousmane Dembele had a golden chance to win it when he met a perfect cross from Jordi Alba, but with the goal at his mercy he planted his header over the bar. And on 90 minutes Messi was inches away with a free-kick which had the defensive wall and Oblak beaten.
Key statistics
Barca bossed the fist half possession with over 65 per cent of the ball, but Atleti had more attempts on goal at six to three and five to three on target. The Blaugrana turned the figures around in the second half and edged the final shot count by 12 to 11 and seven to six on target.
When playing at home the Catalans have not lost to the Madrid side in 21 encounters in the league, but they really needed a win today.
What’s next?
Real Madrid and Sevilla play on Sunday night and fans of both teams will have kept a close eye on the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid updates this afternoon; and they will have been delighted by the outcome. If Los Blancos can beat Sevilla they will go top of the league with three games to play.
Barca brushed off their recent defeat to Granada with a victory over Valencia and now they need to get back to winning ways, nine points from their last three fixtures is a must. On Tuesday the Blaugrana is away to Levante, and that should be a regulation win against a side in 13th place with little to play for and with four defeats in the last five games.
Meanwhile Atletico are at home to Real Sociedad next. La Real are in fifth place with work still to do to guarantee a Europa League place, but they did their chances no harm at all with a 2-0 victory over relegation threatened Elche on Friday night.
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