Act I is for Barça. Before the double confrontation between the two teams in the quarter-final of the Champions League, FC Barcelona got the better of Atlético Madrid (1-2), this Saturday evening on behalf of the 30e La Liga day.
At an intense start to the match, Antoine Griezmann, holder unlike Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman, created two huge chances (12e28e). Opposite, it was Lamine Yamal who was the most dangerous. The Spanish genius also hit the post (35e), before the Colchoneros opened the score.
Sent deep by Clément Lenglet, Giuliano Simeone adjusted Joan Garcia perfectly. (1-0, 39e). A short-lived joy for the people of Madrid. After a one-two with Dani Olmo, Marcus Rashford equalized three minutes later (1-1, 42e).
The red that changes everything
Then, just before the break, Diego Simeone’s men suffered another hard blow after the expulsion of Nico, author of a gross foul on Lamine Yamal at the edge of the area (45e+2). Returning from the locker room, it was Gerard Martin who thought he would be sent off after a big sole, but the VAR ultimately decided otherwise (51e).
The rest of the game was extremely tense and saw Barça dominate outrageously against Matelassiers who cowered in their camp. But the latter ended up cracking at the end of the match with a goal from Robert Lewandowski (1-2, 88e), replacing at kick-off.
With Real Madrid’s defeat in Mallorca a few hours earlier (2-1), FC Barcelona is now seven points ahead at the top of the standings and is seriously approaching the title.
