Barcelona can only call itself leader in La Liga. The Catalans took full advantage of Real Madrid’s defeat on Saturday by winning themselves on a visit to Atlético Madrid. It became 0-1 after a goal from Ousmane Dembélé halfway through the first half.
Incidentally, Barcelona still played without star striker Robert Lewandowski, who is serving a suspension after he made a “disrespectful” gesture to the referee in the match against Osasuna just before the World Cup.
A class flash from Pedri was enough for Barça to go into half-time at the Metropolitano Stadium with a 0-1 lead. The Spain international was given too much time and space in the center of midfield, infiltrating the box, served Gavi who in turn found Ousmane Dembélé. Yannick Carrasco’s tackle came just too late to keep the vice world champion from the deserved opening goal: 0-1.
Red twice, Griezmann misses the ultimate chance
Only afterwards did the Madrid engine more or less catch on, which resulted in a few opportunities. Yet Barça also continued to threaten. After the break, substitute Ferran Torres’ 0-2 was rejected for offside. In the final phase it came to a riot between Stefan Savic (Atlético) and Ferran Torres, after which referee Montero sent them both off the field.
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Antoine Griezmann (ex-Barcelona) then missed a huge chance for the equalizer: the ball was taken off the line and it remained 0-1. Yannick Carrasco was substituted on for the home team after 65 minutes, Axel Witsel remained on the bench.
The win brings Barcelona to a total of 41 points and puts Real Madrid, which lost at Villarreal on Saturday, 3 points behind. Number three Real Sociedad already follows on 9 points. Atlético Madrid shares fifth place with Villarreal: both clubs are 14 points behind the Catalan leader.
Photo: EPA-EFE
