Joao Félix defeats Atlético and lifts Barça
The Portuguese signs the 1-0 that restores confidence to Xavi's team
MADRID, 3 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona achieved a vital victory (1-0) against Atlético de Madrid this Sunday on matchday 15 of LaLiga EA Sports held at the Olímpic Lluís Companys, three points to regain confidence and strength in the fight for leadership against a rival direct, with a starter for Joao Félix who scored under all the spotlights.
The Portuguese striker, on loan from Madrid to the Catalans, scored the only goal in the 28th minute of a vibrant match, with a first half for Barça and a second for red and white. Xavi Hernández's men raised their heads on an important day, with a more recognizable midfield with Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gündogan, in addition to two saving saves from Iñaki Peña.
Meanwhile, Diego Pablo Simeone's men found themselves very at the mercy of their rival for many minutes, until they changed the film without success or the best version of an almost always decisive Griezmann. All in all, the duel was high-flying and, with the score short, the home team suffered much more in the end. Thus, Barça is third with 34 points, compared to Atlético's 31, although with one game less, four behind the leadership of Real Madrid and Girona.
The Barça pride and necessity won the first half for the locals, a monologue in possession and, in addition, a strong commitment to steal after loss. The knife was sharpened by last week's criticism of a Barça side that tied Vallecas and also suffered against Porto, plus the red-and-white reproaches of Joao Félix who, without a doubt, had his game within the game.
The dynamics of Xavi's team changed in 45 minutes due to the extra that was administered to get him out on the pitch and due to the talent that was already somewhat more refined after Pedri and De Jong were injured. Atlético helped with a certain empanada and for hesitation. The visiting team did not know whether to go under pressure, try to steal to show off their version of this season or resign themselves to being well behind and going on the counterattack.
In that I want and I can't, Giménez went very far to overtake Pedri and the Canarian took the ball that ended in Félix's goal in the 28th minute. The player on loan from Atlético celebrated it well, after dodging a weak Molina and, above, Oblak. The 1-0 at halftime was the best red and white news.
Although they had a couple of attempts, one that Araujo took near the goal line and a couple of shots from Griezmann and Hermoso, the Barça cyclone was close to the Atlético goal from the first minute, when Raphinha forgave a very clear. Lewandowski, who was looked for a lot by his teammates, missed two other very juicy ones.
IÑAKI PEÑA, HERO IN THE END
On the way to the locker room, Joao Félix had one more against Oblak and during the restart he continued his state of inspiration, the protagonist of almost every visiting yellow card. Simeone made three changes after passing through the locker room, but the effect of Samuel Lino and Ángel Correa was not immediate. What Atleti did gain was freshness to put more and better pressure on a Barça that was lowering its intensity.
The red-and-white bet was winning until they took over a final stretch where the locals forgave the sentence, with a ball to Raphinha's post and already in the last counterattacks against a rival who had to take risks, and those from the capital ran into each other, in the few clear ones they had, with a colossal Iñaki Peña. The Barça goalkeeper stopped a Memphis free kick in the top corner and, already in the 94th minute, he saved Correa's point-blank shot with his body.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 1 – ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 0. (1-0, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Iñaki Peña; Araujo, Koundé, Inigo Martinez, Cancelo; Gündogan, De Jong, Pedri (Fermin, min.89); Raphinha (Lamine Yamal, 77th minute), Lewandowski and Joao Felix (Ferran, 77th minute).
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Nahuel Molina (Azpilicueta, rest), Giménez (Lino, rest), Witsel, Hermoso, Riquelme (Correa, rest); Koke (Saúl, min.65), De Paul, Llorente; Morata (Memphis, min.65) and Griezmann.
–GOL:
1 – 0, min.28, Joao Félix.
–REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez (C.Murciano). He cautioned Joao Félix (min.50), Ferran (min.78), Araujo (min.79), Cancelo (min.87) and De Jong (min.93) for Barça. And Giménez (min.31), Witsel (min.34), Koke (min.38) and Azpilicueta (min.47) at Atlético.
— STADIUM: Olímpic Lluís Companys.