On Sunday night on the Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico Madrid took the lead towards Barcelona by way of Julian Alvarez within the final minute of the primary half, and when substitute Alexander Sorloth doubled it within the seventieth, the Rojiblancos seemed to be cruising in direction of a massively vital overcome the Catalan giants.
Nonetheless, Barcelona confirmed the total extent of their would possibly within the remaining 20 minutes, with Robert Lewandowski (72′), Ferran Torres (78′, 90+8′), and Lamine Yamal (90+2′) netting for the guests, ensuring the three factors on this conflict between La Liga title contenders went with them after they left the capital.
Groups
Atletico boss Diego Simeone needed to make do with out Angel Correa for this recreation, with the ahead serving a five-match ban for his pink card and abusive language in direction of the referee towards Getafe the earlier week. It is going to have come as a blow, however Atletico at the least had no harm absences to work round.
With Jan Oblak in purpose, centre-backs Robin Le Normand and Clement Lenglet had been flanked by fullbacks Reinildo Mandava and Marcos Llorente. A flat four-man midfield was shaped by Rodrigo De Paul and Pablo Barrios within the center, and Giuliano Simeone and Samuel Lino huge. Alvarez was joined by Antoine Griezmann in assault.
In the meantime, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, defender Andreas Christensen, and midfielder Marc Bernal had been absent by way of totally different harm issues for Barcelona.
Wojciech Szczesny was between the posts. Pau Cubarsi paired up with Inigo Martinez within the coronary heart of defence, flanked by Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde. Marc Casado and Pedri had been tasked with doing the exhausting work in the midst of the park. Dani Olmo was chosen forward of Gavi for the No. 10 function. Yamal attacked from the precise, Raphinha from the left, and Lewandowski by way of the center.
Transient recap
The hosts took the lead on the stroke of halftime by way of Julián Álvarez, who netted his eleventh league purpose of the season after Antoine Griezmann launched a swift counterattack and fed Giuliano Simeone, whose exact cross arrange the Argentine to attain.
Diego Simeone’s males doubled their benefit within the seventieth minute when substitute Alexander Sørloth produced an excellent close-range end following an help from Conor Gallagher.
Nonetheless, Barcelona responded nearly immediately, with Robert Lewandowski assembly Iñigo Martínez’s cross to drag one again.
The guests drew stage within the 78th minute when Ferran Torres headed residence from Raphinha’s well-placed supply, and Yamal accomplished the turnaround in stoppage time with a shocking long-range strike previous Jan Oblak.
Torres then sealed the victory for Barcelona, netting his second of the evening to place the outcome past doubt.
Yamal will get even higher
Yamal has been certainly one of soccer’s biggest sensations since breaking into Barca’s senior squad on the age of 16. Set to show 18 quickly, the teenage winger continues to dazzle and presents a correct nightmare for any defender dealing with him.
Reinildo really did in addition to anybody towards him on this recreation, however there’s actually no stopping Yamal when he will get into his stride on the precise flank. The best way he controls the ball at full tempo – appreciable tempo at that – is mesmerizing even for the onlookers, not to mention his direct opponents on the pitch.
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In all competitions this season, at a membership like Barcelona, Yamal has 13 objectives and 17 assists in all competitions – once more, he’s but to show 18. These numbers, contemplating the truth that Raphinha has been taking part in the season of his life on the opposite flank, to not point out the category of Lewandowski, inform a exceptional story certainly. It’s debatable if even eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi was this good at this age.
And nonetheless, there are just a few facets of the sport the place choices on the ball betray Yamal’s age. Very not often, however he typically tries an excessive amount of even for his expertise, dribbling previous one or two opponents with ease, solely to search out himself closed down by a number of extra. This minor, barely notable flaw in his recreation, will certainly vanish with expertise, and the thought we might quickly be seeing an excellent higher Yamal is horrifying.
Title race in Barca’s arms
Clearly an important side of this match is the impression it has made on the title race within the Spanish high flight. It’s now in Barcelona’s arms – Enrique’s aspect lead arch-rivals Actual Madrid on goal-difference, with each groups on 60 factors, however the Blaugrana have a recreation in hand on Los Blancos.
Atletico stay in with a shot, sitting third with a four-point hole separating them from the highest two, however this defeat, following shut on a vastly disappointing Champions League exit by the hands of town rivals, can have left scars to fix over the upcoming worldwide break.
